As Pune university gifts silver coins to staff, students question ‘waste of lakhs of rupees’

“We are not opposed to teachers and non-teaching staff. Our protest is on the wrong policies of the university. If the budget of the university is in deficit, how is the administration wasting lakhs of rupees on silver coins? Are they going to compensate these lakhs of rupees by increasing the student’s examination fees and other fees? If anyone is thinking of increasing the fee, we will oppose it with a strong protest,” Rahul Sasane, who belongs to the student group University Student Struggle Action Committee, said.

Bhushan Ranbhare, the Pune district president of the National Students’ Union of India, said the money could have been put to better use. “These medals have been distributed to university staff members in celebration of the Amrit Mahotsav but they should spend money on facilities for students. The condition of the hostels is very bad and the food served in the mess frequently has insects in it. Students are as much a part of the university as staff members are,” Ranbhare said.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), however, said it welcomed the decision. “The silver coin is to motivate employees on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav of the university and the amount is something that the university can easily afford. But we demand students should also be provided new facilities as a part of the celebrations,” Aditya Dumbre, SPPU ABVP president, said.

Vice-Chancellor Gosavi explained that the tradition of gifting coins to employees began when the university turned 25. “This is a tradition that took place when the university completed 25 years and 50 years. Now we have continued it on the completion of 75 years, this celebration will not come again and again. Silver coins have been given to permanent teaching and non-teaching staff to appreciate their efforts; most of them will not be there for the 100-year celebration,” Gosavi said.