Amount used on infra, coaches’ wages, says PU

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 5

With questions being raised over charging of sports fees from students at a time when no tournaments were held in the past one year, the Panjab University authorities said the amount was being used to pay coaches’ salaries and maintaining sports infrastructure.

The authorities concerned also made it clear that the funds won’t be adjusted in future

“The Panjab University Sports Committee (PUSC) will discuss the matter, but the sports fees collected from students is being spent on many things, including dispersing coaches’ salaries and maintaining grounds. The funds will also be used during upcoming projects,” Prof Prashant Kumar Gautam, PU Sports Director, had said recently.

Panjab University charges sports fee from every student ad the amount is used for conducting sports activities, including inter-college, inter-university championships, purchasing of sports kits and maintaining of grounds.

Besides sports funds, the PUSC also spends money collected from sports fees to develop infrastructure in affiliated colleges and to award scholarships.

“Concerns voiced by some colleges and students are genuine as there have been no tournaments in the past one year. Not the entire amount, but the PUSC should adjust some amount in the next session,” said a senior coach.

“Given the current situation, the university is not likely to host any major championships this year. An average amount, which was expected to be used in such tournaments or camps, should be waived off in the next semester’s sports fee,” said another coach.

However, the coach asserted “authorities’ concern over dispersing coaches’ salary and maintaining grounds is indisputable”.

Meanwhile, students studying in PU affiliated colleges demanded adjustment of sports fee in next semester’s fee.

“If the sports fee is charged for conducting sports activities, the authorities should adjust or waive off a minimal amount from that fee as there have been no championships in the past one year,” said Anil, a student.

“Moreover, no new infrastructure has been developed for the sportspersons either from the PU or the colleges,” he added.