Centre releases Rs 12 crore for PU research scholars

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 8

A long-pending grant of Rs 12 crore for Panjab University research scholars was released today by the Central Government. Records of the university revealed that this year, the grant of research scholars had not beenn received so far due to objections raised by the fact-finding committee of the UGC.

Highly placed sources in the university said after a satisfactory reply to all queries of the fact-finding committee, the research scholars’ grant was released today by the Centre.

The sources said a three-member committee of the PU today held a meeting with the fact-finding committee in which it shared the changes made in the audit and accounts system pertaining to the objections of the committee. “This is an indication that the first instalment of the pending grant from the HRD Ministry of around Rs 196 crore will also soon be released to the university,” said an official.

The PU Registrar, Col G S Chadha (retd), one of the members of the PU committee, confirmed that within a fortnight, the university would receive the first instalment of the grant, which would improve the financial condition of the university. He said detailed information on the objections of the fact-finding committee was provided to UGC officials today.

The fact-finding committee was informed that for the uniform audit of the hostels, norms had already been framed. The fact-finding committee stated that it was concerned about an account (named private fund) opened for hostels as in several other universities, those handling it had not handed over the account to their successors, resulting in financial problems being faced by the universities. PU officials said they had changed the nomenclature of the account.

University to submit reply by next week

Officials said by next week, a detailed reply of all objections would be filed by the PU after which the UGC would recommend to the HRD Ministry to release the grant.

PUTA special meeting

Interestingly, the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), which held a special general body meeting on Thursday to discuss the financial crisis, was clueless that the university was also holding the final meeting at the same time with the UGC fact-finding committee in which all issues were sorted out.