Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday distributed cheques of scholarship funds under AAP government's SC students welfare scheme. An event was organised at PAP grounds in Jalandhar.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Cabinet Minister Harpreet Singh Mundia, Cabinet Minister Baljit Kaur, along with other leaders, attended the event. A large number of students gathered at the stadium to receive the cheques.
Sharing his experience, student Dilpreet praised the state government and said he hails from a village in Chamkaur Sahib and had always dreamed of becoming a doctor.
He said that no one from his village had ever become a doctor before. Dilpreet added that his father is a salaried employee and the fees of a medical college were far beyond his family’s means.
His hopes revived when he secured a government seat at PIMS Hospital. He later came to know about the state government’s PMS (Post Matric Scholarship) scheme, under which he was allotted a seat without having to pay the hefty fees.
Dilpreet said that today he can proudly say that his dream of becoming a doctor has been fulfilled because of the government’s PMS scheme. He added that he is now set to become the first doctor from his village.
Another student, Harshita, said she is pursuing an expensive law course because of the government’s support. She said the PMS scheme gave her hope and enabled her to move closer to her dream of becoming a judge. With assistance under the SC scholarship scheme, she said she is now standing on her own feet.
Harshita thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and her teachers, stating that the Mann-led government has not only made promises but has fulfilled them.
Addressing the gathering, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema launched a sharp attack on previous governments, alleging that a major scam had taken place in SC scholarships during the Congress regime, which pushed the future of thousands of students into darkness.
He said the present government is committed to ensuring that no deserving student is deprived of education due to financial constraints.
Thanking all those who worked behind the scenes to make the programme successful, leaders recalled the vision of social reformers and Dr BR Ambedkar.
Quoting poet Sant Ram Udasi, they said the initiative is a small step towards lighting the lamp of education in every household. “Dr Ambedkar’s dream was to empower society through education, and it is heartening to see students today carrying big dreams in their eyes,” they said.