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2008 Toronto International Goan Convention
Theme: Goan Identity And Networking Today.
http://2008goanconvention.com/index.php
Mario Miranda Festival, July 24-26, 2008 Old GMC Building
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-July/077732.html
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Why Central University Status for P.U.?
Apr 8th, 2008 | By News Team | Category: Articles, Chandigarh, Facts
Forward, Punjab University
Chandigarh ,
Prof. Manjit Singh:
One of the most important reasons for asking central university status for
Panjab University is its perpetually bad financial condition, thanks to the
globalisation and liberalization of national policies. We tried to stem over
the crisis by introducing NRI seats but that source has been closed under
the decision of the Court. And now the University is trying to wriggle out
of the mess by introducing new courses, so called self-financing courses,
charging fee in the range of 10t to 30 times of the normal tuition fee for a
mainstream course on the campus. Some of the new courses are being run with
the help of pre-existing faculty, resulting with the burdening of the
faculty. This is adhocism, which is not going to work in the long run.
Already, the engineering students of Hoshiarpur came all the way to the
campus to sit on dharna in front of the VC's office to protest against the
lack of faculty to teach the courses.
What is happening with the premier institute, i.e. P.U., is not the case
with other institutions in Chandigarh such as PGI, PEC, IMTECH, and CSOI.
For instance out of Rs. 210 crore net budget of PGI the Plan budget for the
year 2007-08 was almost 200 per cent and in IMTECH out of Rs.23.5 crore
budget the plan budget was more than 300 per cent. In contrast, out of
nearly Rs. 100 crore budget of P.U. the plan budget was only 13 per cent.
How can we carry out 'world-class research' with such a meager budget! If we
don't have any budget for research, equipments and buildings, it is futile
to think of competing in the global market.
It was in September 2006, much before the pronouncements of Knowledge
Commission, that the entire teaching community of P.U. put its signature on
the early declaration of Panjab University as central university. On the
basis of the collective will of the P.U. teaching community representations
were submitted to P.M., Minister of HRD, Local M.P. and Secretary Higher
Education, U.T. Chandigarh. As a follow up a series of meetings have been
held with almost every political party on the issue in our attempt to
convince them on our most legitimate demand. They did nothing except giving
a patient hearing for the fear that they may be singled out on the
politically sensitive question of central university status to P.U. The
teachers and students came down to the public protests in the streets when
all parleys failed.
Only recently we could put our hand on the letter issued by MHRD as far back
as in July 2007 addressed to the Secretary Higher Education, U.T.
Chandigarh, with the similar copy to Punjab Government, whereby Punjab
Government has been offered central university status to P.U. The Punjab
Government has not responded to the letter till today and its deep silence
is nothing short of putting P.U. to 'silence' forever.
Today to de-link development from quality higher education and scientific
temper is to live in fools paradise. How and why more funds to P.U. could
harm political interest of the elites from Punjab is beyond our
comprehension. It is reactive politics sans vision, not proactive politics
for the long run development of the region. It is the result of narrow and
reactive politics that Punjab state, that was the fastest growing till last
decade now is rated amongst the slowest growing states of India.
While everyone from Punjab is jubilant about the announcement of setting up
'world-class University' in Amritsar and one IIT in Punjab, the same
enthusiasm turns into deep silence on the question of up gradation of P.U.
to central university. There is nothing wrong when the teachers of Guru
Nanak Dev University, Amritsar demand central university status for their
university, but to ignore P.U. would be a historic mistake leading to its
deterioration much faster than expected. With the implementation of new pay
scales, P.U. would have funds neither for the salaries nor for the Pension,
what to talk of research and academic excellence.
What if Punjab University is made central university
* The secular 10 per cent annual increase of fee of students would go
the moment P.U. is declared Central University.
* No need of floating so called professional courses every now and then,
primarily to mobilize funds and, in the process, excluding a large number of
brilliant students as they can ill afford tuition fee to the tune of lakhs
of rupees.
* Special incentive to research scholars who will be offered Rs. 3-5
thousand monthly stipend to support their expenses.
* A large number new equipments would come to the university for the use
of the scholars and teachers alike.
* The University would be saved from the current mushrooming of courses,
some of which have no relevance with the spirit of higher education, the
universities stand for.
* The social security of employees in the form of pension would become
secure as the pension will become part of the budget.
* The overall budget of the University will increase many folds,
particularly the plan budget.
* Panjab University being the Mother university located at a strategic
place like Chandigarh can act, in association with other upcoming
institutions, as a knowledge grid for the entire region, including South
West Asia.
* The efficiency of the University would increase many folds, partly due
to extensive use on new technology and partly due to the removal of present
administrative hassles.
* The relative academic autonomy, supported with liberal funds, would
attract the best brains all over which is a crying need at the moment.
What if the opportunity falls prey to political myopia and their quibbles
* The University will be drained off its best brains by the up coming
new world-class/ central universities or IITs next door.
* IITs and World-class universities would attract the best students, and
P.U. have to satisfy itself with the 'left over'.
* Caught midst the trio of state, U.T. and the Centre the University
would be left with no option but to continuously struggle to achieve
consensus among the divergent views/ objectives and, in the process, let the
University slowly drift away from the original 'mission'.
* Once the academic decay set in for want of funds and other academic
support, it would prove to be a failure much sooner than expected.
There is never late in correcting mistakes. Goa Government decided to let
Goa University be a state university when it was asked to choose between the
state or central university in 1987. It took exactly two decades to get
another opportunity and this time wisdom prevailed over the Goa Government
which they learned through hard ways. They found Goa University not only
fund starved but also drained of its best intellect during the last two
decades. And now it has been declared as central university. We only hope
that our politicians would try to peep out of their political shell to see
the light of the hope ignited by the offer of central university status to
P.U. by the MHRD. We also know that it is the most opportune time to avail
the offer; if missed, we would have to pay a heavy academic cost effecting
the entire region, certainly the Punjab the most.
COMMENTS
Those going to defend 'FOR' the 'motion' "SHOULD GOA UNIVERSITY GO CENTRAL?"
will surely use the above arguments. Cannot fault them. Those 'AGAINST' the
motion better smart up. The debate is convened by ' CITIZEN'S (Of Goa)
INITIATIVE' not linked to any organization or political party.
floriano lobo
convenor
floriano
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Tri Continental Film Festival 2008
July 25 - 30, 2008
Goa, India
http://www.moviesgoa.org/page/tri_continental/
http://www.moviesgoa.org/tricon/schedule_2008.pdf
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