JointAction Committee (JAC) comprising 13 different associations (representing over1,000 unaided colleges of Punjab), in a press conference held here today,expressed concern on the sorry state of education and problems being faced byunaided colleges in Punjab.
Citingthe example of what’s happening in CT College, the members of JAC, informed themedia persons that the hundreds of SC students along with supporters of somepolitical parties has forcibly seized the college campus, in regard to thenon-issuance of degrees to the students under Post Matric Scholarship.
Themembers said that the Punjab Government owes Rs 39 crore to CT College underPost Matriculation Scholarship (PMS). Most students have passed or havecompleted a 3-4 year course; however, the government has miserably failed torelease their fees.
Dr.Gurmeet Singh Dhaliwal, Chairman, JAC, said that about 1650 unaided colleges inPunjab are enrolling more than 2.5 lakh students, but since the last 3-4 yearsthe colleges haven’t received their funds under post-matric scholarships. Theyquestioned that “How will the colleges function as the government is notreleasing the outstanding scholarship amount nor the students are paying thefees”?
JagjitSingh, President JAC, said that it’s really unfortunate that an educationalinstitute was being forcibly closed down. “We have been providing freeeducation to SC students for the last many years. Till date, we haven’tdemanded fees from any SC student, nor is the government releasing the funds.Moreover, the funds would come in the face of fees directly into the bankaccounts of students; however, the students have already completed theirrespective courses. Therefore, we are helpless and forced to withhold students'degrees until we receive the pending dues”, he said.
Expressinghis concern, CT Group Chairman, Charanjit Singh Channi said that this issue isquite old now but still the educational institutes are suffering because oflack of serious approach by the Government. He said that the government has topay back around Rs. 39 crore to the college and above that the protesters ofless known political parties have forcibly entered the campus and are holding aloud protest, just in order to gain vote bank for forthcoming elections.
“Hesaid that they have captured the campus from inside and are creating ruckus,due to which, the female staff members and students who are residing in thecampus hostel are feeling unsafe as the protesters may turn violent anytime.They already burnt photographs placed at the reception area. The staff membersetc are scared to enter the campus now. The situation has become helpless andwe seek complete support from district administration and reach to theGovernment in order to resolve this issue at the earliest”, he added.
AshokMittal, Chancellor, Lovely Professional University, and Satnam Singh Sandhu,Chief Patron, JAC, said that Scheduled Castes in Punjab are close to 32% andthey are dependent on scholarship schemes for higher and technical education.“We request the Punjab Government to intervene in this matter and release theoutstanding scholarship amount as soon as possible to provide financial reliefto the unaided colleges of Punjab”.
AnilChopra, Chairman, St. Soldier Group and Vipan Sharma, Vice President, JAC saidthat Doaba has a large population belonging to the SC community and due towhich the enrollment of unscheduled students is higher than other places.Therefore, the amount owed to the government of this region is also high.“Therefore, to save the educational institutes, the government must release thepending amount”, he said.