Episode no.56
This interview with Tarun Ghai RTI Activist and Professor of Political Science was published on 30 July 2022. At the beginning of the interview, he said that in 1978, he started giving aid to 136 colleges of Punjab by implementing the 95% grant-in-aid scheme (including conditions). Recently when Krishna Kumar Secretary Higher Education took charge, he appointed representatives in these 136 aided colleges who have certain duties so that students and professors are not exploited by the management. He said that to save money, about 400 professors have been fired from colleges by managements in the last 10 years. Therefore, the government also made it mandatory that the signature of these representatives is necessary when removing any professor from the college. He said that the management of Khalsa College of Ludhiana had expressed their disagreement on the appointment of such a representative. Professor Tarun Ghai said that our organization appreciates the decision taken by the government representative. He said that in the last 16 years, there has not been a single inspection in the colleges of Punjab by the universities. Prof. Tarun exposed with evidence the huge scam perpetrated in 1993-97, by Swami Premanand Maha Vidyala Mukerian, it was taking aid since 1978. In 2010, a de-recognition letter was sent to the college, which has not happened till date. He said that there should be financial audit of colleges. Apart from this, he said that some ineligible people have become associate professors and principals in Punjab. Professor Ghai said that the Punjab government should thoroughly investigate such scams.
~kulwinder kaur bajwa