Punjabi University in Patiala is planning to start an on-line course in Guru Granth Sahib. While credit for the proposed course is being taken by Advanced Centre for Development of Punjabi Language, Literature & Culture, scholars working in other departments have been asked to write papers for the course.

The centre, which has proposed the Rs 6.40 project, already has a big computer infrastructure, but instead of giving the responsibility to design the website to any staff member, it has proposed to hire the services of a web designer at a fixed payment of Rs 2.40 lakh for an year. The designer would be designated as project fellow. Besides, an amount of Rs 1 lakh has been sought for apparatus & other equipment for the project.

When asked about spending Rs 2.40 lakh on a web designer while the university already has a large number of computer staff, director of the centre, Gurpreet Singh Lehal said the staff was already busy with other projects. Through outsourcing, any website can be got designed at one fourth of the proposed amount, he said.