At PAU too, girls steer the strength on campus

Ludhiana, July 30: Times have changed as more and more girls have taken upon themselves the task of outclassing boys when it comes to class strength. And the situation in the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is no different.

It is for the second time in a row that the number of girls at the university campus is higher than that of boys. Undoubtedly, PAU has an exclusive girls’ college — College of Home Science but same holds true for College of Agriculture where the number of boys has always exceeded girls.

Undoubtedly, girls are steering the change. In 2008-09, PAU had a total of 1,660 students out of which 866 were girls. Maintaining their record, girls in the new session again outnumber boys.

With second counselling yet to take place and a batch of agriculture sciences having been started at Gurdaspur, the university now has a strength of 1,383 students comprising 717 girls.

Commenting on the phenomenon, Dean College of Agriculture Dr M S Aulkah said, “Agriculture has always been thought as the domain of boys but it is no longer true. It is very heartening to see that more number of girls are opting for this course.” Dr Aulakh adds, “What is even better is the fact that girls from the rural areas are increasingly getting attracted to this course.”

Another domain breached by the girls is that of engineering. Dr P K Gupta Dean College of Agricultural Engineering says, “This is a global phenomenon. Girls are out doing boys in every sector and same is the case with education. It is just that the fair sex is more hardworking.”

–Agencies