PU Senate mulls over new sources of income for varsity

Another Senator suggested that the university should gets its green audit done, which may further help the authorities to save money.

[related-post]

Dinesh Kumar highlighted that as PU shells out Rs 900 lakh as electricity charges of the 17 hostels on campus, usage of LED lights and solar power plant could help reduce the bills to Rs 600 lakh. Senators suggested that they should seek help from the new UT Adviser, who is encouraging installation of solar power plants in academic institutions.

Shelley Walia, a Senator, cited the reasons for PU’s failure to generate adequate income despite having the resources and potential available.

Giving an example of Pune University, Walia said, “As Pune University has thousands of foreign students, it earns Rs 80 crore only from them. However, our university and its old website do not attract any foreign students.” He added, “The endowments collected from the alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge University, is equal to that of the financial budget of Punjab, whereas we do not even know if we manage to collect some amount through our alumni. Also, we can make enough money from our Press. Universities in the West earn in billions through their Press alone. We do not encourage books, publishers, printers etc.” Walia also mentioned that the foreign students at PU often complain of not having a decent eating outlet and that the quality of food at the Students’ Centre is not good.

Professor Yograj said, “As many as 90 percent of the eateries at the Students’ Centre or at the Sector 14 market have not paid their rents and approximately, Rs 2-3 crore must be pending. We keep asking the Estate Office to keep a check, but nothing happens. To avoid this situation, the university could do an open auction of these outlets.”

One of the Senators suggested that the university should revamp the market area, which could help generate some income.