BANGALORE: With top Bangalore University officials engaged in confrontation students are the victims. With the financial year coming to an end on March 31, the warring officials are now busy preparing a proposal to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to avail ‘unutilised’ funds earmarked for Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe and Other Backward Class (SC/ST and OBC) students.
In February, BU Registrar (Administration), B C Mylarappa had visited the UGC headquarters in New Delhi, where he learnt that as per UGC provisions, all the universities are entitled to `28,000 crore funds. “It is evident that lack of interest among the officials is the reason. UGC officials scorned at the fact that BU failed to send a proposal to claim the funds. A fresh proposal for the SC/ST and OBC funds is almost ready,” said Mylarappa.
He said he would soon take the `12-crore proposal to New Delhi. “If BU gets this fund, it will be invested to improve hostel infrastructure, and provide laptops to research students and allot stipend for thesis students,” said Mylarappa.
VC Begs to Differ
When Express contacted Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev on why BU had not claimed the funds, he had a different take. “There are funds earmarked for all universities in a bid to increase the gross enrolment ratio and to provide scholarships to students under the new Scholars in Residence Scheme. To say that `28, 000 crore has been earmarked for this out of the total `46,000 crore higher education budget is a long stretch of imagination,” he said.
He further blamed bad maintenance of records at the University for the funds to remain unutilised.
“Some officials do not maintain records. When utilisation certificates are not given, how can we get more funds? Such mistakes must be addressed,” said Prabhu Dev.