The members of Punjab Unaided Technical Institution Association (PUTIA) had a meeting today in Mohali under the leadership of Dr.J.S.dhaliwal, President, PUTIA. Chairmen of various colleges of Punjab including Sh. Gurvinder Singh (Rayat & Bahra), Manjit Singh (Doaba Group), Sh.Sukhdev Singla (Indo Global), Dr.Rohin Sachdeva (Lala Lajpat Rai Group), Dr.Anshu Kataria (Aryans Group), S.Avtar Singh (Sukhmani Group) etc participated in the meeting. Problems related with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) were discussed during the meeting.
Dr J.S.Dhaliwal said that AICTE norms for opening new colleges/for extension of approval should be on the basis of admissions done instead of intake allotted by AICTE. He added that to start the new project/for extension of approval, a big infrastructure including land, building, equipment & machinery, furniture & fixture, computers, faculty etc. is required. On the other hand, the entire infrastructure goes waste when seats are not filled. It is not wastage of investment only, rather it is wastage of the national resources.
Dr Dhaliwal said that with the rising cost of land & building and other paraphernalia area, AICTE should relook into the norms laid down for an Educational Institution. With the given fee structures, it is very tough to meet out the running expenses even. He added that the approval process is becoming complicated day by day. The procedure should be easy, flexible, user friendly etc. But it is very complicated, time consuming and lengthy.
Dr Dhaliwal further said that excise taxation department has issued notices to the Educational Institutions. He added that already Educational Institutions are overburdened by various types of taxes. Punjab Government, instead of removing the tax burden, is planning to put more tax burden on Educational Institutions. He requested that Educational Institutions should be made tax free in the state for its survival.
Dr Dhaliwal added further that there is 95% contribution of private institutions in providing technical education and in a way these institutions are creating employment opportunities and playing a vital role in the development of the country. The Government should immediately remove the tax levied on various institutions.