Today’s budget- do or die situation for Punjabi university; all eyes on VC’s efforts
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Punjabi university’s worse financial condition is an open secret. The unfortunate financial condition of Punjabi University is also well known in the government, political, administrative, academic circles and it is baffling enough to witness the step-motherly treatment given to the state University by the government, by not giving any concrete solution, bailout package. The debt on the state university is presently more than 150 crore and the University is expecting a substantial bailout package in today’s last full budget from the state government.
It’s a do or die situation for Punjabi university -to sail smooth or to sink further, as it’s financial condition is deteriorating day by day . As its an election year and everyone have high hopes, to get financial help. Undoubtedly, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, is under severe pressure from his colleagues, MLAs, party leaders to present a budget so that they can go to their respective constituencies with something positive to say to the voters. But, till now the concerned MLA, in whose constituency Punjabi University falls, is not so loud, to help in improving the financial condition, to clear the debt, to get some financial bailout package, for this slow dying university.
The vice chancellor Prof BS Ghuman, appointed by the present government, after a proper procedure, resigned few months ago. As per the reports, he resigned, after he fails to get any financial support from the state government, despite the fact, he did exemplary in uplifting the academics in the university.
After his resignation, the state government appointed a senior level IAS officer, Ravneet Kaur, who is known to be close to the royal family, as the vice chancellor. Everyone related with the Punjabi university- staff, faculty, students, vendors had high hopes from the present vice chancellor.
“But now everyone’s eye is on her, as they are expecting a bailout package from her, as she is an IAS officer, close to the royal family “said a university staff member.
Another staff member said “contrary to the expectation and anticipations of the Punjabi University, the Punjab government had not given any special grants to the university, in the last budget also, which is reeling under debts, in its budgetary allocations. We had kept our fingers crossed, to get some good news, in today’s budget.”
March 8,2021
