PU defends fee hike

Chandigarh, March 12: In response to the sharp criticism that the fee hike proposed by the Panjab University has evoked, the Dean Students Welfare DSW today stated that the slated hikes were far below the fee being charged by the Punjabi University, Patiala, and Guru Nanak Dev University GNDU, Amritsar.

quot;The PU is not an island,quot; DSW PU Prof R.S. Grewal said addressing a press conference this afternoon. quot;The last hike had been at least 30 years ago. We are at fault for not doing this in the past but a wrong does not justify another wrong,quot; he remarked. When asked why the university had not explored others means for raising money, Grewal snapped: quot;We can8217;t go around with a begging bowl in our hands. This is not a government department.quot;

Reacting to criticism that the hike would affect poor students, he said last year after much persuasion only 31 applications were received from students for financial assistance from the Poor Students Aid Fund. For the financial assistance available for hostel residents, not a single resident of the girls hostels applied, he said.

According to statistics supplied by Grewal, the other two universities were charging up to four times more in terms of tuition fee courses.