Teachers oppose move to use welfare funds for new colleges

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 12

A day after the DPI (Colleges), Department of Higher Education, Punjab, ordered eight government colleges to transfer funds for starting new colleges in the state, teachers and student unions have raised their voice against it.

The principals of eight government colleges have been asked if they have more than Rs 5 lakh available in funds, and if so, these be transferred to the account of the Higher Education Development Fund of DPI (Colleges) as money is required for starting new colleges in the state.

The order has been issued to SCD Government College and Government College for Girls in Ludhiana, Government College, Ropar, Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, Government Mohindra College, Patiala, Government Ranbir College Sangrur, Government College, Naya Nangal, and Government Brijindra College, Faridkot.

President of the Punjab Government Colleges Teachers’ Association, Prof Barjinder Singh Tohra, criticised the order. “It is a good move to open new colleges in the state but we condemn the order issued to government colleges to transfer Rs 5 lakh from their funds for the new colleges. It is totally wrong. The funds collected by any college can be used only for students and for the development of the institute, and not for any other purpose as per the norms.”

Prof (retd) Jaipal Singh, former president of the union, said, “Not even a single penny should be taken from the funds collected by any government college. The department concerned wants Rs 40 lakh from eight colleges by issuing this order. Can’t the government arrange an amount of just Rs 40 lakh on its own?”

Gagandeep Singh of the Punjab Students’ Federation said, “We oppose the order. The Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA) and other funds which are collected from students should be used only for their welfare. When people pay huge taxes, the government should use the amount for new colleges.”

DPI (Colleges), Punjab, Paramjit Singh said there was no issue at all. “We can use the funds of one college for the other. The money is to be used on a returnable basis. There is nothing wrong in it.”

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