'Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme' scheme launched

Punjab government today said it has launched a unique 'Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme' with a resolve to provide cheaper and quality technical education to the meritorious and poor students of the state.
After approval from Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, this scheme was formally inaugurated jointly by the Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Punjab Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi here today, said an official release.
Channi speaking on the occasion said all the students who are residents of Punjab and studying in government polytechnic and engineering colleges, Maharaja Ranjit Singh University, Bathinda and IKGPTU, Jalandhar would benefit from the scheme.

The Technical Education Minister informed that under the scheme, the students of Punjab would get the fee waiver as per the percentage of marks obtained in Class X.
He said 70 per cent fee waiver will be for the students scoring 60 to 70 per cent marks, 80 per cent fee waiver for students scoring 70 to 80 per cent marks, 90 per cent fee waiver for students scoring 80 to 90 per cent and students scoring 90 to 100 per cent marks would get the full fee waiver.
The minister further said meritorious but poor students of Punjab domicile could avail this facility.

He said the promise to provide quality and affordable technical education to the poor and needy students made by Amarinder Singh led Punjab government has been fulfilled with the implementation of 'Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme'.

Channi alleged it was the previous government who always turned a "blind eye" to the technical education in government sector due to which admission graph went very low in government colleges.
Another factor responsible for the low admissions in the government colleges was that the fee structure of private and government colleges was same.
"Now with the implementation of 'Chief Minister Scholarship Scheme', it will lead to a huge boost in the admissions in government polytechnic and engineering colleges," added Channi.

He further said the previous government did not focus on recruiting teachers in the polytechnic and engineering colleges but Amarinder Singh led government has already paved a way for this process and it would soon be completed through the Punjab Public Service Commission.
On this occasion, Channi directed the officers of the technical education department to ensure 100 per cent admission in all the colleges and warned of strict action against those who show laxity in doing so.
He further said that 100 per cent placement of government college students must be ensured.
The Technical Education Minister said the entire infrastructure of all government polytechnic and engineering colleges is being revamped under which building infrastructure, labs and other equipments would be upgraded and modernised.