Chandigarh, July 22: The Punjab Government would extend all possible assistance to Punjabi University, Patiala to bring it out of the financial crisis. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the Punjab government said that a high level meeting was held today at Punjab Bhawan Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal in this regard. On the basis of the report submitted by Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University, Dr. B.S Ghuman, the Finance Minister Mr. Manpreet Singh Badal directed the Finance Department to immediately release an amount of Rs. 20 crore as a special grant to the University.
The spokesperson further said that during the meeting the Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala has been asked to submit a detailed report with concrete measures/ suggestions to reduce expenses to bring university out of the financial crises with the help of Mr. MS Narang (IAS Retired) who has been appointed by the government as the Special Officer in the university to help the Vice Chancellor especially to improve the financial condition of the university. This report should be tabled in the next meeting which would be held in the first week of the month of August. To bring University financially back on track the University authorities should present a complete and self-explanatory road map.
During the meeting the Vice Chancellor Punjabi University was also asked to take concrete and decisive action on the report of the Auditor General of Punjab. It was also decided that further financial assistance to the University would be considered only in the case if the university brings improvement in the financial, academic and examination system including the rationalization of teaching and non-teaching staff. The Vice Chancellor Punjabi University was also asked to convene a meeting of the Syndicate at the earliest to take a decision on all these issues.
During the meeting it was also decided that the university would immediately start admissions in the campus and affiliated colleges.
Earlier in the meeting, Dr. Ghuman apprised the government of the poor financial condition of the university and appealed to help the one of the prestigious university of the Malwa region in this hour of crisis so that the arrears of salaries and pensions of the employees of the university could be paid.
Prominent amongst others present in the meeting included Secretary Higher Education Mr. Rahul Bhandari and Secretary Finance Mr. KAP Sinha, DPI Colleges Punjab and Vice Chancellor Punjabi University Patiala.
