E-Paper
Post-Matric Scholarship scheme: Punjab still owes Panjab University ₹21 crore
Panjab University (PU) is yet to receive around ₹21 crore from the Punjab government under the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme
Panjab University (PU) is yet to receive around ₹21 crore from the Punjab government under the Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme.
The university has not received the grant under the scheme from 2013-14 to 2019-20. The matter had been outlined in the action-taken report of the last board of finance (BoF) meeting held in January 2021 and will also be discussed in its upcoming meeting on March 11.
Over the years, the varsity has written to the Punjab government multiple times seeking release of the pending grant. A PU official also said that they have written to the government recently as well.
When PU was expecting a revenue gap in 2020 amid the pandemic, the budget estimate committee had recommended that the projected deficit be reflected in the budget and the government be asked to release the pending grant to cover it.
In the budget estimates of 2022-23, which is to be taken up in the next meeting of BoF, the university has proposed revised pay scales for its teaching and non-teaching staff, which has caused the varsity budget to reach ₹1,014 crore. The university has proposed supplementary and pendings grant under the PMS scheme to bridge the revenue gap. A senior varsity official said, “It is affecting the revenue of the university and we have to curtail the spending till the payment of the pending amount.”
Despite many attempts, DPI (colleges) Punjab, Upkar Singh, was not available for comments.
The university has also not received any response from the Punjab government regarding the grant of ₹37 crore for the construction of a building of PU regional centre at Sri Muktsar Sahib. Moreover, Punjab is yet to release the balance grant of ₹2.6 crore out of ₹5 crore sanctioned to complete the remaining work of building at PU rural centre at Kauni, Sri Muktsar Sahib.
