BENGALURU: Nine universities in the state have not submitted the Utilisation Certificate (UC) to the University Grants Commission (UGC). Due to this, they have not received several crores in grants for development works for the period 2014-15.
Only Mangalore University and Karnataka Women’s University, Dharwad, have submitted the certificate and are eligible to get the grants for 2014-15.
The grants are allocated by UGC under the General Development Assistance Scheme during 12th Plan period between 2012-2015, which ended in March.
As per the official notification hosted by UGC on its website, out of 11 universities of Karnataka, nine, including National Law School India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, have not submitted the certificate. As per the notification hosted by UGC, Bangalore University, Davanagere University, Gulbarga University, Kannada University, Hampi, Karnatak University, Dharwad, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, University of Mysore and Tumkur University have also not submitted the utilisation certificate to UGC.
According to Bangalore University officials, the development grant is one of the major funding provided by UGC to universities. The funds can be spent on infrastructure facilities like constructing buildings, libraries, laboratory equipment, furniture, water, health centre, information technology, smart classrooms, etc.
“We just need to submit documents/proof on what we have spent the funds. If we do that, UGC will release more grants,” said an official of Bangalore University. If the certificate is not submitted, the UGC will assume that the funds released previously are unspent and lying with the university, the official pointed out.
However, when contacted, Bangalore University Vice-chancellor Dr B Thimme Gowda said, “We are making use of that amount in a better manner and we still have one year’s time to utilise that. We will soon send the utilisation certificate to UGC to get grants for 2014-15.”