Dharamsala, July 18
The role of Palampur Agriculture University of Himachal is more of employment centre than promoting agriculture activities in the state. As per data collected by The Tribune, there are more than three employees per student in the university.

Presently, there are just 780 students in the university. However, strength of permanent employees is about 2,100, including 339 teachers and 1,754 non-teachers. Besides, there are many part- time or daily wagers also. According to norms fixed by the UGC or Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) under which the university functions, the student-employee strength should ideally be 1:15.

The total budget of the university is about Rs 45 crore per annum out of which about 80 per cent is contributed by the ICAR and rest by the state government.

However, due to lopsided student-teacher ratio, the government is spending around Rs 6 lakh per student, per annum, in the university.

Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Kirshi Vishvavidyalaya, as the university has been named after former BJP MLA from Palampur, was established in 1978. Its campus spreads across 403-hectare area near Palampur. However, since its establishment, just 4,400 students have graduated from the university. It comes to an average of just about 150 students per annum.

Sources in the university blame politicians for the lopsided ratio. They alleged that back-door entries of class III and class IV employees at the behest of politicians, has increased the non- teaching staff strength of the university.

The modus operandi of recruiting employees is very simple. Initially the employees are posted in remotely located research centres of the university. They are then shifted to the main campus or any research centre close to their home after being enrolled permanently. The establishment expenditure of the university has increased to such an extent that about 80 per cent of the budget goes in payment of salaries.

University authorities, when contacted, however, boasted of the contribution made by the institution in development of the state. They said the scientists had, till date, produced 116 improved varieties of various crops and 42 varieties were in the process of development.

Vice-Chancellor of the university Tej Pratap has sent a proposal to start MBA degree with a specialisation in agriculture marketing to the state government. He has also advocated initiation of various self-sustaining programmes for progressive farmers. While talking to The Tribune, the VC said according to the government policies, the university would have slowly become self-sustaining and steps in this regard had to be taken.

However, the fact remains that the university is catering more to employees rather than students.