Panjab University relies on unmonitored sponsorships for festivals

Chandigarh: Panjab University (PU) has been hosting a series of large festivals, but student leaders are focusing more on entertainment than on student needs. With a budget of Rs 22 lakh for these festivals, many events end up going over budget. This forces organizers to look for outside sponsors, often without any university supervision. One recent festival, Jhankar, received around Rs 9-10 lakh from the student council fund. Another event, Vimarsh, was budgeted for Rs 5 lakh and aimed to include international students. However, Jhankar faced issues when its main performance was canceled due to security concerns, disappointing many attendees. Prof. Amit Chauhan, dean of student welfare, acknowledged the financial challenges. He explained that while the university provides Rs 22 lakh for various festivities, events like Jhankar require much more. As a result, student council members seek sponsorships themselves to cover the higher costs. Recent festivals include Agaaz, with performances by Punjabi singer Prem Dhillon, and upcoming events like Scitron and Jashn-e-Riwayat, featuring popular artists. Students are concerned that the competitive nature of these festivals is overshadowing their original purpose of enhancing student life. While the university mandates receipts for its allocated funds, there's no oversight on the additional sponsorships and stall rentals. The cancellation of Jhankar raises questions about whether these growing festivals are truly benefiting students, or simply becoming bigger and more expensive without improving the experience.