Punjabi University seeks bailout package of Rs 300 cr

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service 

Patiala, February 18

The growing financial liabilities and adoption of the 7th Pay Commission by the University Grants Commission have  become a cause of concern for Punjabi University, which is reeling under a financial crisis. 

The university has now sought a one-time special bailout package of Rs 300 crore and also urged the state government to double its monthly grant from Rs 7.34 crore to Rs 14.68 crore to meet the expenses. Moreover, it is expected that the liabilities of the university may go up further once it adopts the 7th Pay Commission. 

University officials, including Vice-Chancellor Prof BS Ghuman, have been holding regular meetings with the government high-ups in this regard, apprising them of the situation. 

The expenses of the university are going up with each passing year, considering the annual arrears and the salary of its staff members. The percentage of the government grant is shrinking every year, which further makes things difficult for the university.

Therefore, the university is relying on a bailout package to smoothen their functioning. The situation is so grim that the university has even failed to hold its annual sports prize distribution function for 2015-2016 and 2016-17 despite the fact that it is being adjudged the best sports university of the country for a decade now. 

This amount comes out to be little less than Rs 4 crore and the sporting session for 2017-18 is also almost over.

Earlier in November 2017, the university had urged the Punjab government to increase its annual grant which is approximately Rs 85 crore to Rs 100 crore and also sought a special grant of Rs 200 crore for session 2018-19 to help it meet the expenses.

In its reply, the Higher Education Department had shot another letter seeking the details of university’s expenditure for the past five years, which meant that the government would be reviewing all its accounts before taking a final decision on providing further grants.

The university has now sent all details and is hoping that the package would be issued on a priority basis to smoothen things. 

When contacted, Vice-Chancellor Prof BS Ghuman said they had held detailed discussions with all departments concerned and the response of the officials was positive. “Even the Syndicate during its last meeting had endorsed our proposal and appealed to the state government to help us. Once we receive the package, the academic values of the university will definitely touch newer heights,” he added.