Questions raised over brand promos inside Panjab University

CHANDIGARH - The use of the Panjab University campus for commercial activities like brand promotions has raked up a controversy, with student leaders demanding to know how the money thus made is utilised by authorities.

The Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC), the elected and official students’ body that represents nearly 11,000 students, has submitted various memorandums to the vice-chancellor in this regard.

“We have no problem with any kind of commercial activity inside the campus but we only want the university authorities to act in a more accountable manner. It is always good that they are earning extra money in the wake of a long pending financial crunch, but we want them to spend it only on the students of the campus,” Amit Bhatia, president of the PUCSC, told IANS.

Bhatia said the PUCSC also wants the university to involve a student representative while finalising any such deal with a company.

“There are instances when just to earn quick money, they give space to a private company at a throwaway price. Then, if afterwards we go to that company for any kind of sponsorship, they refuse to give us an increased amount,” he pointed out.

Varinder Dhillon, president of the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), told IANS, “We want transparency in the working of the university while making any kind of commercial deal. Usually they do that behind closed doors and students are kept away.

“Till date nobody knows where the money generated from these things go. They have not formed any particular fund for it. We are ready to cooperate with them but we want them to make public all such dealings. Every penny that comes from these activities should go for the welfare of students and to sponsor the events of Panjab University,” said Dhillon.

There are also student leaders who are totally against commercial activities inside the campus.

“The university is giving permission to commercial brands, including telecom companies and newspapers, to promote their products in campus premises just for the sake of a little money. We strongly oppose this liberal policy,” said Deepika Thakur, general secretary of the PUCSC.

“The university is an academic institution and only academic activities should be promoted on the campus. It seems that the authorities surrendered before the MNCs just to get Rs.5,000 to Rs.30,000,” stated Thakur.

When asked about a difference of opinion within the PUCSC, Bhatia said, “I cannot comment on this. But our stand is clear that we are not against these activities if the university is ready to spend the money on students.”

The university authorities say there is no question of stopping commercial activities.

“Whatever money we generate from these commercial activities or advertisement go for funding various functions of this university that directly involve students; so there is no question of stopping them,” Naval Kishore, dean of students’ welfare (DSW), told IANS.

“From the same revenue, we also release funds for many annual events which are organised by the PUCSC. We had recently got a memorandum from students and, to again listen to their demands, we have called a meeting with them.”

The university, one of the oldest universities of the country, was established in 1882. It has 60 teaching and research departments and over 170 colleges affiliated to it.

(Alkesh Sharma can be contacted at alkesh.s@ians.in)