Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjabi University: Joint Forum of Election Unions holds candle march against non-issuance of financial grant
Babushahi Bureau
Patiala (Punjab), June 21, 2022: The Joint Forum of Election Unions of Punjabi University Patiala held a candle march against the non-issuance of the financial grant on Monday evening.
The protest was jointly organized by the Joint Forum of Elected Unions, which was attended by the student, teacher, and staff unions.Sukhjinder Butter, Secretary, Punjabi University Teachers Union moderated the forum and various union leaders addressed the gathering.
The leaders protested that the students, faculty and staff of Punjabi University had high expectations from the new government as such protests had taken place in the previous Congress government but the previous government had not taken any gist of Punjabi University.
The leaders said that it seemed as if the government had deliberately neglected the Punjabi University. It may be mentioned that due to poor financial condition of Punjabi University, teachers and staff have to wait a long time every month for their salaries.
Speaking from the platform, Pushpinder Singh Brar, President, A and B Class Employees Union said that although the new government has been formed mainly on the issue of education and health in Punjab, but the Minister of Higher Education has not yet taken such a step regarding Punjabi University to be debt free.
He said that the government's silence on Punjabi University suggests that no specific solution has been worked out for Punjabi University in the coming budget to be presented this month.
Sukhjinder Butter, Secretary, PUTA said that due to poor financial condition of Punjabi University, salaries were not being paid on time. From student Union SFI leader Amrtipal Singh in his address said that Punjab government calls for 'change' government but it will be proved only if there is any change in the financial condition of Punjabi University which does not seem to be the reason why Punjabi University Students, staff and teachers must fight together. Balkar Singh, leader of the Democratic Students' Union, said that due to financial difficulties, all the facilities available to the students were badly affected and the administration was informed from time to time but they were not resolved.
Finally, Dr. Gulshan Bansal, Executive Member, PUTA, said that perhaps the light of these candles would illuminate the minds of the government and the administration about the Punjabi University. On this occasion loud slogans were raised against the Punjab government for not releasing the announced grant to the Punjabi University.