Visiting his alma mater Panjab University after almost half a century, Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh made certain significant points about the state of higher education in the country. Singh rued that few students opted for higher education after school.

“I often call the 11th Five Year Plan as the education plan. I want my country to produce scholars of international competitiveness,” he said.

The PM pointed out the lack of good faculty in the educational institutes of the country and said students at IITs, IIMs or other universities had to suffer because of this. He said it was because of this reason that he had come up with a plan of giving attractive salary to the faculty of high standards. He said he had put up this challenge before University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman Prof S K Thorat, who managed to plug many loopholes in the higher education system. Singh assured quality education in terms of better faculty and institutes.

Earlier, PU Vice-Chancellor Prof R C Sobti honoured the PM with the Degree in Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). After 1974, Singh was the prime minister to visit the PU campus.

Prof Sobti apprised him of the achievements of the university and said they were working hard to making it a better place. Sobti told the PM that the university was working towards realising the PM’s 2020 dream for education and had adopted all suggestions and guidelines proposed by the UGC.

Former registrar Prof S S Bari took care of the stage, while Prof Surinder Sharma, who has the additional charge of Director, Public Relations, managed all guests and the media.

Later, the PU faculty discussed the day with Sobti over a cup of tea and congratulated him for making the event a reality. G K Chatrath, Dean, Legal Studies, said: “This day will be remembered by all and it is because of your (Sobti’s) efforts that the PM visited the campus.”