Rs 200 cr in kitty,PU draws up grand plans

The Board of Finance approved a budget of around Rs 200 crore for the Panjab University in its meeting on Thursday.

The Board of Finance approved a budget of around Rs 200 crore for the Panjab University in its meeting on Thursday. The budget includes arrears worth Rs 67 crore,which would be given to the PU employees once the Punjab government implements the Sixth Pay Commission.

The budget is bound to bring smiles to many faces as the university is set to introduce job-oriented courses,including one in forensic sciences,tourism and hotel management and pool of lightning design besides an MBA in energy management. On the lines of Delhi University,PU will also introduce BA honours in every subject. Meanwhile,an education media centre is also on the cards.

Talking to Newsline,a member from the Board of Finance said: “It is for the first time this year that the budget was presented in just 50 pages as compared to years where we had a budget running into four-five volumes. It is because of the changed pattern that we have been able to get the desired amount sanctioned.”

With the budget getting sanctioned,the university will also have a centralised examination hall with the facility of mobile jammers to prohibit students from using mobiles in examination halls.

Another significant development that PU plans to offer is soft loans for students from the economically weaker sections in self-financed courses.

An estimated budget of around Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose. Meanwhile,the university will also have a centre for add-on courses for the benefit of the students.

Sources claimed that the PU faculty is satisfied with the way the budget has been approved and with money flowing in,it is all set to execute its plans.

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The university will also receive the Rs 100-crore grant approved for it by the Centre. Sources claim that money will be received soon and the delay is only because of the technical formalities.

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