Chandigarh: One counsellor for over 16,000 students, 131 sessions in five months, a second post delayed for months, and a monthly honorarium lower than Chandigarh’s minimum wages for sanitation workers — these were the key findings of TOI’s reports on Panjab University’s mental health support system. On Thursday, the university’s Board of Finance passed a Rs 942.21 crore revenue budget for 2027-28, providing for an increase in the number of part-time counsellors from two to four and a 25% hike in their monthly honorarium.Under the proposal, the monthly honorarium for each part-time counsellor will increase from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. The move marks a step towards strengthening mental health support on campus, although the university has not proposed a full-time counselling position.In Oct 2025, TOI highlighted that the university’s monthly honorarium of Rs 20,000 was lower than Chandigarh’s notified DC rate of Rs 37,247 for a full-time counsellor.TOI reports in 2025 also highlighted the university’s struggle to keep its counselling arrangements in step with student demand. In Sept 2025, 36 students approached the counselling centre, the highest monthly intake recorded at the time. However, one of the two sanctioned part-time counsellor positions was vacant. The second counsellor joined in Jan 2026, bringing the team strength to two.While the budget provides for additional counsellors and higher remuneration, it does not specify when the two additional counsellors will be appointed, their working hours or the number of students each will be expected to attend to. These details will be crucial in determining how effectively the expansion addresses the existing gaps in support.The need for adequate counselling services has also been underscored by judicial interventions. In July 2025, the Supreme Court issued interim safeguards calling on educational institutions to maintain optimal student-to-counsellor ratios, assign counsellors to smaller groups and establish clear referral protocols. The court’s Jan 2026 judgment further underscored the gap between mental health policies and their implementation.Increasing the counselling team could improve students’ access to help for academic pressure, examination anxiety and personal distress. However, the absence of a proposed full-time position leaves questions about continuity of care and the availability of sustained support for students who need it.