Rohtak university sets up Rs 10 crore fund to offer on-campus employment to students

In a significant move towards promoting self-reliance among students, Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, has rolled out a scheme to provide part-time employment opportunities to its students within university departments.

Under the newly launched Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Student-Centric Skill Based Incentive Scheme, students enrolled in various academic programmes will now be able to work up to 2 hours a day for 20 days a month, amounting to 40 hours monthly and 120 hours per academic session. Depending on their skill level and financial background, they will earn between Rs 8,000 and Rs 16,000 per month.

To support the initiative, the university has established a corpus fund of Rs 10 crore.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajbir Singh today. Explaining the rationale behind the move, he said, “As many as 1,500 students will be included in the first phase of the scheme. The process of selection of students will be transparent and merit-based. Students will be selected on the basis of their talent, skills and financial status.”

He emphasised that the idea mirrors part-time job structures commonly followed in foreign universities.

“The underlying idea is to introduce a mechanism for provision of part-time jobs on the pattern of foreign countries. This will enhance the confidence of the students and help them become self-reliant,” he added.

Calling it a transformative step, Prof Rajbir Singh said, “This scheme would prove to be a milestone in establishing MDU as a student-centric university in the true sense. The aim of a university is not only to give degrees to students, but also to prepare them for employment.”

Dean (Student Welfare) Prof Sapna Garg, who also serves as the convener of the executive board constituted for this initiative, provided detailed insight into the plan’s implementation.

“This pioneering initiative of MDU will inspire other universities and educational institutions of the country,” she said.

The payment structure has been divided into four hourly slabs — Rs 200, Rs 250, Rs 300 and Rs 400 — depending on the student’s assessed skill level and eligibility.

The scheme will be rolled out from the 2025–26 academic session, allowing students to work in various university departments while continuing their education.

Other members of the executive board who participated in the meeting include Prof Randeep Rana, industrialist Rajendra Bansal, Prof Sumit Gill, Prof Sonu Dehmiwal, Prof Divya Malhan, Prof Sonia, Dr Pratap Rathi, Prof Rajkumar and Sunil Jaglan.