Private players keen to set up universities in state

Punjab is all set to become a hub of specialised universities for different academic streams. At least 10 private players, including the Reliance Industries group led by Anil Ambani, Bharti telecom (Airtel group), Lord Diljit Rana, Chitkara group, Ryat and Bahra group and the SGPC are keen to set up their universities in Punjab.

In fact,they have already sent their proposals to the Punjab regime which has nearly finalised the recruit of the Bill and the policy to be place in place to allow the setting up of universities in the private sector in the state. Earlier, the state regime had allowed the setting up of the Lovely University near Jalandhar and the state regime had then enacted a law with particular reference to that university.

Though, as more and more groups are showing interest in setting up universities, the state regime has chose to place in place a broad policy framework and law in place to enable the opening of universities in the private sector.

The entry of private players in the education sector at such a generous extent in Punjab is a new development. Whether these groups will be able to set up educational institutes of excellence or not is the million dough question. Punjab is already burdened with mediocre kind of educational institutes. It has not a single educational institute of national repute. Punjab needs high quality educational institutions of international standards. Before allowing the setting up of private universities, the state will have to ensure that these are not the run of the mill stuff.

Sources said the Chitkara group, which has opened a number of educational institutions at a complex near Banur on the Chandigarh-Patiala road had stirred the application to set up Chitkara University. The SGPC has applied to set up Guru Granth Sahib University, near Fatehgarh Sahib. The UK-based Lord Diljit Rana, who has made huge investment in setting up a group of educational institutions near Khamano, is keen to set up Sanghol University. Sanghol is correlated to ancient civilisation and said to be a seat of learning of Budhism.

The Institute of Finance and Chartered Analysts of India( IFAI) is keen to set up a university near Gurnekalan village in the Lehragaga area of Sangrur district. Educom is interested to set up a university. Bharti Telecom had sought 500 acres of land from Punjab to set up its university. Reliance Group is keen to set up an IT university near Chandigarh either at Fatehgarh or in Ropar district. A high- level team of this group had visited a number of sites in both districts, it is learnt.

The Ryat and Bahra group, which has set up a chain of educational institutions in the Kurali and Ropar belt, is keen set up a university near Kurali, it is learnt. Another group has proposed to set up a university in infrastructure and yet another aviation university. The regime itself is trying hard to set up a Defense University at Patiala. Already, Punjab, a small state, has Law University at Patiala, Health Sciences University at Faridkot, Animal Sciences University at Ludhiana, Punjab Agriculture University besides deemded Thapar Technical University at Patiala and Punjab Technical University at Jalandhar. Then there is Punjabi University and Guru Nanak Dev University.