Session 2023-24: Only 171 hostel residents availed of Panjab University food subsidy

Akashdeep Virk

Chandigarh, July 16

Amid the uproar over the hike in mess diet rates by the Panjab University (PU) authorities, the university’s initiative to provide food subsidy to students coming from poor financial background has come to light. But according to the data provided by PU officials, only 171 hostel residents were provided with food subsidy of Rs 9,98,000 for academic session 2023-24.

According to the data, the authorities provided subsidy to three group of students — students with family income up to Rs 1 lakh, students with family income between Rs 1-2 lakh and students with family income between Rs 2-3 lakh. The eligible and selected students of these groups are provided with subsidy of Rs 8,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 6,000, respectively.

For the academic session 2023-24, 47 boys and 39 girls were given Rs 8,000 each, 21 boys and 13 girls were given Rs 7,000 each, while eight boys and four girls were given Rs 6,000 each. Overall, Rs 5.71 lakh were given to eligible boys and Rs 4.27 lakh to eligible girls.

“The students have to apply for subsidy. We put up notices in the hostel and also get it circulated via social media groups of students. The interested and eligible students can apply,” said JS Sherawat, warden of boys’ hostel number 5. According to a beneficiary student, the students had to apply in January and the subsidy amount arrived in May 2024 through a cheque.

“Had the university created apt awareness regarding the subsidy, there would have been more takers of the scheme. There cannot be just 171 students with economically weaker backgrounds,” said Rajat Puri, ABVP leader, PU campus.