SC students not to pay tution fee in medical colleges

Chandigarh, Apr 11 (UNI) 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 and non-refundable admission fees to Scheduled Caste students who are eligible for post matric scholarship.

Medical Education and Research Minister Tikshan Sud said here this decision was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal keeping in view the poor financial conditions of SC students. He said 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 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 with this decision, the 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 Government, after completing the process of admission. The decision would benefit thousands of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

Secretary, Medical Education and Research, Jagjit Puri explained that instructions had been issued to all Medical, Ayurvedic, Homeopathy, Dental and Nursing Colleges in the state to make this decision a part of prospectus of their institutes and also bring it to the notice of every Scheduled Caste student at the time of counselling.

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

Mr Puri said eligible students would 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.

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