Punjab stakes claim to PU
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 18 — In a significant development, the Punjab Government has asked the Central Government to make necessary amendments in the Re-organisation of States Act to facilitate immediate transfer of Panjab University, Chandigarh, to the Punjab Government as a "gift" on the tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Minister for Higher Education, said the Chief Minister in a letter had asked the Centre to appoint the Punjab Governor as Chancellor of Panjab University. He said it was a matter of concern that instead of the Governor, the Vice-President of the country was the Chancellor of the university.

He said the states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had already delinked their colleges from Panjab University. Cent per cent grants to Panjab University was being given by the state government.

When asked why the state government had not demanded the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab as in that case Panjab University would automatically go to the state, Mr Calcutta said: "Let Panjab University be transferred to Punjab in the first phase".

Mr Calcutta said the holiday schedule was being revised in view of the 26-day strike in colleges. He said the number of holidays would be decreased.

The minister send all legal hurdles in granting pension and gratuity to the staff of aided colleges (95 per cent grant) had been cleared. A formal approval for the same would be accorded by the Cabinet shortly. The staff would get benefits with effect from 1992.

The state government had delegated powers to principals of government colleges to fill posts of ad hoc teachers in their respective colleges. He said these posts would be filled till regular appointments by the Punjab Public Service Commission. The ad hoc lecturers would be given a lumpsum salary of Rs 4500.

Mr Calcutta said in view of globalisation of economy, there was an urgent need to change the courses in colleges and universities. The state government had formulated a comprehensive plan to bring about drastic changes in the courses so that the students could get employment immediately after completion of studies. Necessary instructions in this regard had been issued to the officials concerned.

He said no vocational course was being run in any government college at present.

Mr Calcutta said the state was facing a financial crunch. However, there was an urgent need to fill the posts of lecturer, especially Punjabi lecturers, after the introduction of the language at the graduation level. He said on the direction of the apex court, primary education to all had to be ensured by 2006. Hence, a big chunk of the Budget would go to primary education. Under the circumstances, the allocation for higher education would be reduced. The colleges would have to generate their own resources.

Mr Calcutta said as a part of the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth, Guru Gobind Singh Chair was being set up at Guru Nanak Dev University.

He said the state government had constituted a committee to review the fee structure in private colleges. Criticising the University Grants Commission, Mr Calcutta alleged that the state universities were getting only 10 per cent of the UGC budget. He urged that the grant to state universities be enhanced.

Earlier, the minister inaugurated a two-day workshop of college principals affiliated to Guru Nanak Dev University.

Dr Kanta Kumari, Joint Secretary, UGC, said it was for the first time that 100 per cent colleges in the state had been covered under various UGC schemes.

She informed the principals that more than Rs 7 crore had been allocated for various UGC schemes to colleges affiliated to the university. Special grants had been earmarked for colleges located in border and backward areas and women colleges.