Bathinda: Representatives from aided and unaided colleges affiliated with Punjabi University unanimously resolved to oppose the university's decision to double endowment funds, labeling the move arbitrary and detrimental to the fiscal health of the colleges.
Endowment Fund Hike Details
The university has raised these funds from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for arts, science and commerce colleges for girls and from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 40 lakh for law, professional and other multidisciplinary colleges. The decision was taken in an emergent meeting of the executive body of the Non-Government Colleges Managements Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh (NGCMF) held at SD College, Barnala, on Monday.
Federation's Response
Federation functionaries, backed by the Punjabi University Unaided Colleges Association, urged all affiliated institutions to disregard this directive and vowed to fight the decision at political, bureaucratic and legal levels. The federation highlighted that many colleges, particularly those in rural and remote border regions with low student enrolment, are grappling with severe financial hardships caused by a widening gap between revenue and operational costs, coupled with decreasing government grants.
Additional Financial Strains
The federation also discussed other critical financial strains, including delayed DPI grants, the full implementation of the 95% grant-in-aid scheme for regular teachers, post reviews under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the reimbursement of gratuity and earned leave encashment. The federation urged the Punjab government to formulate a comprehensive policy to sustain these vital institutions.
In a strongly worded resolution, the federation stated that the arbitrary hike in endowment funds would further burden colleges already struggling to stay afloat. It called upon the university to reconsider its decision and engage in meaningful dialogue with college managements. The federation also warned of possible protests and legal action if the decision is not rolled back.
College principals and management representatives expressed concern that the increased endowment funds would force them to either raise tuition fees or cut essential services, ultimately affecting students' education. They urged the state government to intervene and ensure that the university's policies do not jeopardize the future of higher education in the region.
