2 months on, Punjabi University awaits grant announced by Punjab CM

Patiala, January 21

Nearly two months after the state government announced to take over Rs 150 crore bank loan and increase Punjabi University’s monthly grant from Rs 9 crore to 20 crore, the university is still awaiting the funds. The Chief Minister’s office had passed an official communication regarding the same in December, but the funds have not reached the university since.

In a much-lauded announcement made by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi during his visit on November 24, he had announced that the state government would takeover Rs 150 crore bank loan of the university and increase its monthly grant from Rs 9 crore to Rs 20 crore.

This was after the university had made several efforts contacting the state government for the waiver and increment in its grant over years. The university’s expenditure on salaries and other factors had been increasing by the years while it faced difficulty in discharging funds for daily activities.

Officials at the campus today said it had been two months since the announcement was made. Requesting anonymity, a senior official said, “The Chief Minister’s announcement was well received and lauded by one and all. But we have not received the funds since the announcement.”

University Vice-Chancellor Prof Arvind said his office was making efforts for the release of the funds. “We had received an official notification from the Chief Minister’s office wherein it decided to take over the bank loan and increase the grant. The notification was received a week after the announcement on December 1. Since then, we are making our efforts and hoping the grant will be released for smooth functioning,” he said.

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