Punjab Government’s ambitious Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme is proving out to be a boon for the poor but intelligent students belonging to the SC categories.
Under this scheme, scholarship is given to the students belonging to the SC categories having family income up to Rs two lakh per annum, and applicable to the students studding in class IX and X, said Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Irrigation and senior vice president of Shiromani Akali Dal’s SC wing Sohan Singh Thandal.He said that this Scheme is the brain child of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is very much concerned for the overall welfare of the scheduled castes in the state especially encouraging the students of this community to pursue higher education.
Thandal said that any student of SC community studying in class IX and X could avail this scholarship. “Under this scheme, scholarship of Rs 150 per month to the day scholars and Rs 350 per month to the hostlers is being provided. This scholarship is provided for 10 months in a year,” he added.Further, he said that apart from the monthly financial assistance, one-time ad-hoc grant of Rs 750 to the day scholars and Rs 1,000 to the hostlers is also being provided for note books.
“Strict instructions have been issued by the Chief Minister to the Education Department to sensitize the SC communities about the welfare schemes started by the Punjab Government so that they can avail the benefits,” he added.