Chandigarh , 1 Nov : PUTA welcomes Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to PU campus. It is indeed a matter of pride for PUTA that one of its members holds the highest executive office of the nation. The visit of the PM is very crucial, and the entire community of PU teachers is grateful for the kind gestures that he has made in the past towards the University. Out of the grant of Rs. 50 crore, which was announced in the annual budget, Rs. 20 crore has already been received. Earlier, it was at PM’s initiative that PU could start its pension scheme. However the demand of elevation of PU to a Central University still goes unmet. This is despite PM’s own willingness to do so. As PM comes to the University, PUTA expects him to touch upon this issue.
Panjab Government’s sudden withdrawal of the ‘no objection letter’ which it had issued in favour of making PU a Central University was indeed a great setback. PUTA believes that in the circumstances, PM alone can prevail upon Panjab Government. It is apparent that had Panjab Government any serious problems with PU being made a Central University it could not have issued a ‘no objection certificate’ in the first place. The politicization of the issue is unwarranted, and matters of higher academics should be seen beyond immediate provincial contexts. If PU is made central, it would in no way impinge upon the regional commitments of the University. More than 70% of its students are Punjabi, and in case it is made Central University, it would retain its name, i.e., Panjab University only, and it would continue to serve the region only.
PU has performed the role of academic leader in the entire north-west region with distinction, and its contribution to the education profile of the nation is impeccable. PU has a glorious past, and as such it forms the heritage of this region. It is by all means an institute of national importance. Its rich alumni-base, its pre-Partition past, its present French architecture — all point towards its unmistakably ‘Institute of National Importance’ like Delhi University. Moreover, practically every University in the region owes its origin to PU. PU in this sense is a mother University.
PUTA is optimistic that PM as its key alumnus would persuade Panjab CM, Shri. Prakash Singh Badal on this issue of granting Central University status to PU.
“In fact like any other central university PU is made by the Act of Parliament, has its chancellor as vice president of India, and government means Union Government in the PU calander”, said Prof Manjit Singh, President PUTA. The number of regular faculty on the campus has come down to almost half whereas the workload has doubled during the recent years, resulting into the heavy pressure on the teachers. At the same time heavy financial burden is forcing PU to open up ‘professional courses’ at the cost of carrying out quality research work in higher education. Students are feeling the pinch of high tuition fee, particularly the female students and those hailing from the humble background. It is the duty of everyone involved in the decision making of higher education to recognize PU’s tremendous contribution to the nation and give its due place by recognizing it as central university, that is, an institute of national importance.