Amid rising deficit, SGPC mulls merger of educational institutes

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 19

Showing concern over the rising deficit, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has contemplated merging its educational institutions.

WANT TO USE FUNDS JUDICIOUSLY

We are working on the modalities of merging the institutes to utilise our funds judiciously. — Harjinder Singh Dhami, SGPC Chief

The SGPC had recently passed a budget allocation of Rs 988.15 crore for 2022-2023, with the expenses exceeding the revenue estimates of Rs 29.70 crore. An estimated Rs 231.83 crore has been aimed to be used to run the affairs of the SGPC-run educational institutions, whereas the anticipated income stood at just Rs 203.60 crore.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said keeping in view the pupil-teacher ratio, the option of merging the institutes was under consideration. “Like, there are some schools in the rural belt where only four-five students have been admitted. These schools can be merged with a school with more student strength. However, it has to be in the close vicinity. We also don’t want the children to travel a longer distance from their place to study,” he added.

In the current session (2022-2023), the expenditure on the educational institutions was estimated to be about Rs 28.23 crore more than the revenue expected to be generated.

It was due to the non-receipt of funds provided by the Punjab Government for the aided staff deputed in the SGPC educational institutions and scholarship amount of the Scheduled Caste (SC) students.

“We have been paying the salaries of these teachers, which was otherwise the liability of the state government. I appeal to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had expressed his inclination towards the Sikh body, to sanction the posts and clear the dues of our aided school staff,” Dhami said.

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