Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 10

Punjabi University has not released salaries of its employees for two months. The employees’ associations have written to the Chief Minister’s office for the release of grants.

In a letter sent to the Chief Minister’s office, the Punjabi University Employees’ Association (B and C Class) today demanded that the state government release Rs200 grant to the university.

They said Punjabi University was one of the important universities in the Malwa region. Most of 25,000 students studying at the university were from the rural background and the university’s income in respect of their fees was meagre.

The students would be burdened if the fee for various courses was increased. “About 50 per cent students come under the post-matric scholarship scheme and do not pay the fee at the time of admission,” they said.

The university was not able to meet its expenses from the fee collected from the students, due to which the salaries of the employees got delayed.

Manoj Bhambri, one of the employees, said: “The state government should release a special grant for the university. Despite the issuance of previous grants of Rs50 crore twice, followed by a special grant Rs20 crore and others, the university’s financial status is not good.”

He added: “The employees have been waiting for their salaries for two months now.”