For the year 2017-18 to 2019-20, the Punjab government decided to refund 40% of the Rs 200 crore arrears of private educational institutions against the post-matric scholarship scheme for SC students. According to an official release, the cabinet determined during a virtual meeting headed by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that the CM will take up the issue of the remaining 60% pending arrears with the Prime Minister.
It went on to say that the cabinet resolved to give these arrears to private institutions after approving the report given by the Group of Ministers (GoM). On January 14, 2021, the GoM was formed, consisting of Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities Minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Higher Education Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, and Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, to investigate the difficulties encountered in the scheme's implementation.
The initiative is being conducted with Central assistance, according to the statement, although no funds have been provided to meet the demand for the years 2017-18 to 2019-20.
The GoM was established to investigate and resolve this issue in order to guarantee the future of Schedule Caste students, according to the statement. The GoM further advised that private educational institutions not keep the roll numbers, certificates, or degrees of SC students, and that they make no claims or go to court against the Punjab government for pending fees from 2017-18 to 2019-2020.
The study further indicated that if the 60% payment from the Government of India is not received, educational institutions will be unable to claim their fees from the Punjab government.