MYSURU: While the state government is celebrating the centenary celebrations of Backward Classes messiah and former CM D Devaraj Urs in a big way by spending Rs 100 crore, the University of Mysore, first to institute D Devaraj Urs Chair, has failed in its objectives.
The varsity failed to chalk out programmes to evaluate Urs’ socio-economic programmes and his legislations and its impact in past two decades.
The then chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde in 1985 released Rs 5 lakh to UoM for instituting D Devaraj Urs chair at the Institute of Development Studies with an objective of carrying out an in-depth study on the developmental programmes chalked out for the welfare of SC, ST and other BCs.
It also included analysis of the impact on the society of the Legislative measures such as land reforms, debt liquidation and abolition of the bonded labours, investigation of the impact of the policy of reservation and identifying leakages that occur in the delivery of the benefits to SC/STs and the BCs.
The statute to the establishment of D Devaraj Urs chair also made provisions for appointing visiting professors, paying honorarium of Rs 8,000 and encourage two post-graduate students as research fellows for two to four years to achieve the objectives. However, due to official apathy, Devaraj Urs chair was inaugurated in 1994 and it took years to take up the activities.
But, the purpose failed over the decades as no concrete programmes were conducted expect for holding a couple of seminars that too in the recent years.
The department has not carried out any research works, evaluated impact of Devaraj Urs programmes and published papers or books.
MP takes back Rs 25 Lakh grant
Former MP A H Vishwanath said he had given Rs 25 lakh for D Devaraj Urs chair from MPLAD funds. “I withdrew my orders as the authorities failed to utilise the funds for the purpose,” he added.
Noted historian Nanjaraj Urs said the Devaraj Urs chair should have done better research work and initiated a dialogue at various levels that suggested recommendations to policy makers on need for new socio-economic programmes. But, it is disgrace to Devaraj Urs that the authorities in the department did not put their mind and soul into the chair activities.
Institute of Development Studies chairman Prof Iyanna maintained that they had held a few seminars and he had personally come out with a book. Admitting that much could not be done, Iyanna said he would try his best to organise a seminar in wake of centenary celebrations.
While, UoM registrar Basavaraj said the concerned department should conduct activities as per objectives and submit annual reports. He, however, said they had held a few seminars and could not confirm on any publications, research work carried out by the chair.