Chandigarh: In a major relief to the students belonging to Schedule Caste (SC) category, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday directed that severest of severe action must be taken against educational institutes withholding the degree of SC students on pretext of post matric scholarship scheme.
“Take severest of severe action against educational institutions indulging in such tantrums to ruin the future of SC students and ensure that degree of not even a single student is withheld by any educational institute” said the Chief Minister while chairing a meeting of Social Justice and empowerment department.
The Chief Minister unequivocally said that the payment of funds under the scheme is a matter between the state government and the educational institutions. He said that students from the underprivileged and weaker sections of society have nothing to do with this and they should not suffer at any cost. Bhagwant Mann said that educational institutes have no right to withhold the degrees of the students and ruin their career.
The Chief Minister categorically said that it is cynical move on the part of educational institutions to act in such a shameful manner. He said that it also reflects the myopic mindset of some educational institutions which are trying to create barriers in the way of SC students. Bhagwant Mann said that stern action should be taken against erring educational institutes resorting to such tactics.
The Chief Minister asserted that the education institutions must refrain from bullying down the SC students and hampering their progress. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is committed to safeguard the interests of SC students and no stone will be left unturned for it. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government will not sit on its hands and allow the harassment of SC students from Educational Institutes.