Colleges’ body threatens protest

Our Correspondent

Raikot, October 5

The Non-Government Colleges Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh has threatened to launch a protest to combat “challenges being faced by private managements” at the hands of the state’s Higher Education Department, DPI and state government.

The decision was taken during a meeting of newly elected office-bearers of the outfit held at local Swami Ganga Giri Girls College.

Chairman of the college and senior president of the federation Ramesh Kaura said members of the outfit, led by president Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and general secretary SM Sharma, had vowed to fight for the cause of as many as 142 member colleges were facing numerous challenges due to the interference in the working of colleges by the higher authorities. Speakers including Chhina, Kaura and Sharma, alleged that the government had issued various “unnecessary” directives during past years. Common admission portal, non-payments of grants and non-release of the SC students’ scholarships were cited as major issues among their demands. Speakers pointed out large-scale interference in the working of colleges by the Education Department and the DPI.

The federation is also critical of the state government’s various decisions that undermine the autonomy of colleges falling under three universities of the state namely Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala, and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

It was decided that a deputation of the federation would soon meet Pargat Singh, Cabinet Minister, Punjab, to seek invention in the matter.