AMRITSAR/LUDHIANA:Historic Khalsa College Governing Council's Honorary Secretary and a well-known educationist Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina was roday unanimously elected as President of Non-Government Colleges Federation of Punjab and Chandigarh during the general house meeting held at Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women here.
Outgoing President Mr. SC Sunwalika was given a warm send-off during the meeting as the Federation recalled his services to the post.
Meanwhile Kaura was elected as Senior Vice President and SM Sharma as General Secretary of the body that represents 142 aided Colleges in Punjab and Chandigarh. Chhina in his Presidential address vowed to fight for the cause of the colleges which are facing numerous challenges from the state's higher education department, DPI and Punjab government.
Chhina who advocated a strong unity of the members said the state government had issued various directives in the near past including sending a represent to the management federation, common admission portal, non-payments of the grants and non release of the SC scholarships.
He also pointed large-scale interference into the working of the Colleges by Education Department and DPI.The decreasing grants, nomination of representatives in the Managing Committees of the Colleges was highlighted during the meeting by the members and they said shortly a deputation must meet Education Minister Pargat Singh shortly to apprise him about the challenges being faced by the Colleges.
The Federation was critical of state government’s various recent moves that undermine the autonomy of the colleges falling under three Universities of Punjab including Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. There was a unanimity that the government must take back these decision as education was already passing through a fragile period due to Covid-19 and such steps will prove to be detrimental for the future of the students in the region. Rakesh Dhir was meanwhile elected as Finance Secretary and President was given the powers to elect the other office bearers and the executive body in the coming days.