Balbir Sidhu launches Dr. BR Ambedkar Post Matric SC Scholarship Scheme in SAS Nagar

S.A.S. Nagar : On the auspicious occasion of Parkash Parv of Bhagwan Valmiki Ji, Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu launched Dr. BR Ambedkar Post Matric SC Scholarship scheme in a virtual event presided over by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.He termed the government’s step to bring out its scholarship scheme a milestone to safeguard the future of lakhs of SC students.Sidhu said that to facilitate larger number of SC students for pursuing higher education in government and private institutions, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led state government has increased the family income criteria for this scheme from earlier Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh .This scheme is to be effective from academic session 2021-22.The minister stated that the scheme will come as a major relief to lakhs of SC students who were deprived of the opportunity to pursue higher learning after the Government of India suddenly withdrew from its Post Matric Scholarship Scheme in 2018. Since then, the state government has not been able to avail any grants under the Centre’s scheme.He informed that total financial implication of the proposal is estimated to be about Rs.600 crore. The minister said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has fulfilled its promise with SC students within short period since the Union Government had left lakhs of these students in lurch by discontinuing grant to state under Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme.Thanking Captain Amarinder Singh for this much needed endeavour to protect the future of SC students, Sidhu said that the Centre had deliberately bereft the SC students from pursuing higher education.Later, carrying forward the development agenda, Mr Sidhu inaugurated a very beautiful and modern Aanganwari Center at village Bakarpur on thie auspicious day. The Aanganwari Center has been set up at a cost of about Rs. 10 lakhs in which Rs. 6.5 lakhs was spent by the philanthropists.