AMRITSAR: Guru Nanak Dev University has decided to incur 50 % (fifty percent) of its total budget of rupees 110.22 crores on teaching, research, improvement of education and 23.07 percent on Miscellaneous Departments & Health Services.

The University has made special provisions to financially assist the poor students, free education to physically handicapped students and wards of Sikh migrants. The poor students would also get Post Matric Scholarships, National Scholarships and Non-Hindi Speaking Scholarships as sanctioned by the Punjab Government.

The University has created a separate Research Development Fund to promote research in the University which would go a long way in providing financial assistance to the various Departments and teachers for undertaking quality research work. Rupees 8 crores were earmarked for the Research Development Fund during the financial year 2007-08 and now an additional provision of Rs. 5.00 crores has been made to promote research in the University.

These decisions were unanimously taken by the Syndicate and the Senate of the Guru Nanak Dev University which met here Sunday. Dr. Jai Rup Singh, Vice-Chancellor chaired these meetings. Dr. R.S. Bawa, Registrar presented the agenda.

Meanwhile both the Houses have unanimously approved the Budget Estimates for the year 2008-09 showing a net deficit of Rs. 20.90 crores.

Talking about the University Budget, Dr. Jai Rup Singh said there would be a Committed Expenditure of Rs. 110.22 crores which included Capital Works of Rs. 4.00 crore, Enhancement of Dearness Allowance of Rs. 3.00 crore and Rs. 1.53 crore for other items.

He said the total expected Revenue Receipts of the University and Maintenance Grant from the Punjab Government would be Rs. 7324.35 lakhs. After taking into account the plus balance of Rs. 1597.46 lakhs, there would be a net deficit of 2090.19 lakhs. He said the decrease in Revenue Receipts is due to the fact that NRI Sponsored seats are not to be filled during the academic session 2008-09 and the release of dearness allowance installments to the University employees.
     
The Vice-Chancellor said the University would also introduce new courses of M.Tech in Biomedical Engineering, Master in Cardiothoracic Physiotherapy, Bachelor in Electronics Communication System, PG Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence and many other Self-Financing Courses from the next academic session 2008-09.

Dr. Singh said that 21 Physically Handicapped Students were provided the facilities of free education, books and study material upto Rs. 1000/- per students per year and scholarship @ Rs. 250/- per month for twelve months. He said that rupees 5 lakh have been provided for scholarship, books, study material for Disabled and other poor students.