External centres told to transfer funds to Punjabi University

Ravneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 13

Going through a financial crunch, Punjabi University Patiala has asked its external centres to transfer all the available funds, above the minimum balance, to the institute.

As per the order issued by the Dean, Academic Affairs, all constituent colleges need to transfer the available funds, including the PTA fund, above the minimum balance amount, to the university’s account.

Punjabi University has eight neighbourhood campuses, 14 constituent colleges and six regional centres.

“The fund available with all the constituent colleges is mostly parent teacher association (PTA) fund. The fund is primarily supposed to be used for the development of colleges, including construction of bathrooms and other works,” a teaching official at one of the constituent colleges said on condition of anonymity.

“A committee of outsiders and campus officials is formed which decides on the use of funds,” the official informed, adding that the funds had also been transferred to the university in the past four years.

Punjabi University is facing shortage of funds and its employees have been awaiting their salaries for the last two months.

Another teaching official said, “The colleges have been sending PTA funds to the university since 2017. Initially, they said the fund will be returned, but it has not happened even once.”

Rajwinder Singh, in-charge, Balraj Singh Bhunder Memorial University College, Sardulgarh, said the college did not have any fund under the category.

“We have not send the funds to the university yet. We are supposed to hold a meeting with the VC office and we will discuss the issue with them,” said Dr Parminder Singh Taggar from University College, Jaito.

“PTA fund is to be used for the development of colleges,” he added.

Dean Academic Affairs Dr BS Sandhu said, “The funds are being collected as per the policy of the state. We don’t aim to use them for any other purpose. These will be returned to the colleges.”

“The funds will not be used for paying salaries to the employees,” he said. “We will pay the salaries from the special grants from the state government.”

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