PU able to divert 1 pc of its expenditure on education

CHANDIGARH: Punjab University''s total income for the financial year 2004-05 is projected to be approximately Rs 44.69 crore, which is up from Rs 43 crore in 2003-04, while the expenditure would escalate to Rs 99.40 crore in comparison to Rs 91.87 crore last year.
Despite a reasonable hike in the income, PU''s worry, the budgetary deficit remains around Rs 54 crore for the coming year, which the university expects the Central and Punjab government to contribute in the ratio of 60: 40.
With expenditure touching nearly Rs 100 crore, what remains a consistent feature of the university''s finances is that nearly 80 per cent of its total expenditure goes out to making payment of salaries to its staff while the university is able to divert just around one per cent of its total expenditure on the improvement of education.
This year too the scenario looks similar. The university would pay salaries to the tune of Rs 78.86 crore to the employees, which accounts for a little more than 79 per cent of the total expenditure, which would be incurred by the university.
However, the figure is a marginal improvement over last year where more than 80 per cent of the total expenditure was incurred on payment of salaries. But with salaries eating a major chunk of the university''s money, academic activities like the expenditure made under the head of "improvement of education," scholarships and stipends has remained low.
While Rs 18 lakh have been allocated to scholarships and stipends, which is same in comparison to last year, expenditure on books and journals get Rs 1.8 crore, which is Rs 20 lakh more than last year.
"Every year, the pressure of paying up the salaries of employees is very much as the state of Punjab is not contributing its share of 40 per cent. In such a scenario, the expenditure on education is bound to suffer," said a senior professor in PU.