No more slipping away at night from Punjabi University girls’ hostel. From the coming academic session, finger impression will record inmates’ coming in and going out.
The first of its type across universities in the state, the system to be installed is both for the girls’ security and ensuring that they stay in at night. The university has spent almost Rs 4 lakh on installing eight fingerprint-identification machines, one in each of its girls’ hostels.
“The (biometric) machines will ease the attendance process, especially at evening,” said dean of student welfare Kulbir Singh Dhillon. “Often students mark proxy attendance for friends who are absent from the hostels. The trend needed to be checked,” he added.
Student unions oppose move
The representatives of different student union met with the dean and other officials on Friday, pressing them to first install this system for the employees in the administrative blocks before trying it out on students. “First apply the system to professors and employees, who also go absent by marking proxy attendance,” said Sumeet Shammi of the All-India Student Federation.
“What about the security of girls living as paying guests off campus because of the shortage of accommodation in hostels?” said Beant Singh, state secretary of the Punjab Students Union. “Why only girls should give their finger impressions?” he said.
Talks over fee hike on June 25
The university authorities have invited student leaders for talks on June 25 to discuss their demand for the rollback of fee increase. Without intimating the students, the university had increased the prospectus charges from Rs 700 to Rs 900, re-appear fee from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500, correction fee from Rs 250 to Rs 350, and other form fee from Rs 100 to Rs 200.“The increased had nothing to do with our fiscal health,” said DSW Kulbir Singh Dhillon. “We have provided student representatives with details of the hike and asked them to meet us on June 25 for discussion,” he added.
Talks over fee hike on June 25
The university authorities have invited student leaders for talks on June 25 to discuss their demand for the rollback of fee increase. Without intimating the students, the university had increased the prospectus charges from Rs 700 to Rs 900, re-appear fee from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500, correction fee from Rs 250 to Rs 350, and other form fee from Rs 100 to Rs 200.“The increased had nothing to do with our fiscal health,” said DSW Kulbir Singh Dhillon. “We have provided student representatives with details of the hike and asked them to meet us on June 25 for discussion,” he added.