SC students not to pay tuition fee in medical colleges

Chandigarh, Apr 11: The Punjab Government today issued directions to all government and private Medical, Ayurvedic, Homeopathy, Dental and Nursing colleges in the state not to charge any tuition fee and non refundable admission charges from Scheduled Caste students who are eligible for post matric scholarship.

Disclosing this here today Medical Education and Research Minister Tikshan Sud said that this decision was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal keeping in view the poor financial conditions of SC students. He said that it was noticed that some genuine SC students failed to get admission due to their failure to pay upfront fee to the institutions.

He said that according to the earlier system, students were required to pay fee and other charges upfront and later seek reimbursement from the government.

Mr Sud said that with this decision Scheduled Caste students' eligible for post-matric scholarships would not have to pay their fees. Now the concerned institutes after admitting eligible students would seek reimbursement of fee and scholarship from the Punjab Government, after completing the process of admission. The decision would benefit thousands of students belonging to Scheduled Castes.

Secretary, Medical Education and Research, Mr Jagjit Puri explained that instructions have been issued to Registrar Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Director Medical Education and Research, Director Ayush and Principles of All Medical / Ayurvedic, Homeopathy, Dental and Nursing Colleges in the state to make this decision part of prospectus of their institutes and also bring this decision to the notice of every Scheduled Caste student at the time of counselling.

Mr Puri said that while seeking reimbursement of fee from Social Welfare Department through proper channel, every institute would submitt an affidavit affirming that they have not charged fee from the SC students.

Mr Puri said that eligible students are entitled for reimbursement of compulsory non-refundable fee for the complete course and scholarship including maintenance allowance, study tour charges, thesis charges, printing charges and book allowances.

UNI