Govt to provide financial aid to varsities: Minister

Ravneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 21

Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today said the state government would provide financial assistance to state universities in need of funds. He said Guru Nanak Bhawan would be established at Punjabi University soon. He, along with Suresh Kumar, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, today flagged off a bus carrying 16 rare handwritten copies of Guru Granth Sahib for the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. The two also inaugurated a book fair, organised by Punjabi University, which will continue till Thursday.

  Talking to mediapersons on the occasion, the Cabinet Minister said, “Universities in the state, including Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, are in need of assistance from the state government. I am a member of the Syndicate of Guru Nanak Dev University, which is also facing a financial crunch. We had a word with the Chief Minister on the matter. The government will have to spend more funds on education and sports in the state. We will definitely provide financial help to the universities.”

He said the state government was establishing a health skill centre at Dera Baba Nanak. Simultaneously, Guru Nanak Bhawan and Guru Nanak Chair would be established at Punjabi University.

 Organisers of the bus carrying the copies of Guru Granth Sahib said people would be able to offer their respects to the rare, handwritten, 100-year-old copies of Guru Granth Sahib with this service. They said the verses and decoration of the copies had been done with ink made by melting gold and diamonds. Dr Sarbjinder Singh, HOD, Guru Granth Sahib Studies, said the total expenditure on the bus was Rs 62 lakh. The bus would travel to Sultanpur Lodhi, Dera Baba Nanak and all five takhts across the country .”

Suresh Kumar, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, said the state government was making efforts to spread the message of Guru Nanak across the world. He cited projects initiated by the state government at an expenditure of Rs 3,000 crore.