Fund crunch-hit Punjabi varsity hikes wages of guest faculty

PATIALA : Faced with an acute financial crisis, Punjabi University, Patiala, has increased the honorarium of guest faculty members roped in on the main campus and the varsity’s satellite institutes.

As per the revised rates, the guest faculty members will get ₹525 against the earlier ₹350 for a 45-minute lecture. For an hourlong lecture, they will now get ₹750 against the earlier ₹500.

The rates will be applicable to those whose maximum monthly remuneration does not exceed ₹30,000.

The move, which will put an extra financial burden on the varsity’s exchequer, is mainly going to benefit the retired teaching staff as they form the bulk of guest faculty members on the varsity, its neighbourhood campuses and the regional centres.

“What is the point of appointing retired teachers as guest faculty when there is sufficient teaching staff? They are getting added remuneration besides handsome pensions,” said an associate professor.

The university is finding it difficult to meet its committed expenditure, especially payments of salaries which are pegged at ₹33 crore a month.

Recently, the state department of higher education had asked the university to curtail its expenditure by reassessing and restructuring teaching and non-teaching staff.

Another professor said in some of the departments, the guest faculty members are taking classes despite availability of sufficient staff. “Instead of paying them, the university should rope in young research scholars which will not only provide them with the required experience but will also add to their income,” he contended.

University registrar Devinder Singh Sidhu said the decision on increasing the honorarium was taken in a syndicate meeting held in March. “Now, only the orders of its implementation were passed,” he claimed.