Punjab college bars 20 B Tech students to take exams

At least 20 students from Jammu and Kashmir, pursuing B.Tech degree under Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) at a private College in Punjab have been barred to take 4th semester exams for not clearing their dues.
“For the last three semesters, everything was going fine as the college was receiving our fees as per the norms of the scholarship,” said Shoaib Muhammad Bhat- 4th semester student of M.tech at Sri Sai College of Engineering and Technology, Badhani Pathankot-Punjab.
He is among 20 students selected under PMSS from Jammu and Kashmir to pursue higher studies on scholarship in the College.
Shoaib said that the college has barred 20 students, including him to appear in exams, as it has not received semester fees from the government under prime minister scholarship scheme.
He said that they (students) have no grudges with the college administration, as it has to take fees from the students.
“College administration is right at its place, as a private college cannot exempt fees of 20 students , which surely cause loss to the college. Our resentment is against state and central government, which failed to follow the scheme properly due to lack of coordination,” he alleged.
“My father is a driver, so the financial condition at home is not that strong, so in the backdrop of family status I had never thought to pursue higher education , as we could not afford it,” said Shoaib , adding “I was surprised to see my name in the selected list of students, who were found eligible for scholarship.
Other students also narrated same story and maintained that after being selected for this course under PMSS in 2013, they had paid Rs 30, 000 each to the liaison agency to get entertained in the college.
“The liaison agency (Peace Foundation) promised us that time to time the required fess will get submitted into the College chest and for first three semesters it worked as it was promised, but now we are left in lurch, with no authority to approach for rest of the scholarship amount,” said students, adding they were declared eligible in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd list of the candidates.
Besides, Shoaib other aggrieved students include Vikas Bhagat, Avinash Kesar, Pavitar Singh, Kashish Magotra, Rajeshwar, Sunny Dogra, Rajat Kumar, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, Showkat Ahmad Bhat, Mudasir Farooq, Rakshit Kesar, Vinod Sharma, Shakir Hussain, Umair Nazir Khan.
They added that the College authorities have asked them to immediately submit Rs 2.50 lakh each if they want to pursue further degree. “The college has cleared that they will not allow any of us to appear in the semester exams till our fees is not submitted. We are very disturbed as all of us belong to poor families, so Rs 2.50 lakh is a big deal for us, we cannot afford it,” lamented students, adding the state government must help them to save their career.
Minister of Education, Naeem Akhter said that the state government has already conveyed this issue to the HRD ministry and “We are being told that there would be no such loopholes in future. Therefore we assure students of the state to concentrate on studies, as they will face no such issues in future,” he said.