CHENNAI: Faculty members and academicians of the University of Madras (UoM) are aggrieved that the institution, which is in a deep financial crisis, has been sanctioned a mere 7.59 crore as a block grant from the higher education department.
The university presented a deficit budget of Rs 132.33 crore for 2024-25 and is in urgent need of funds to pay salaries and pensions.
“It is intriguing and disappointing to note that Madras University has been sanctioned a block grant of a mere Rs 7.59 crore, which is one-third of the grant provided to Bharathidasan University (Rs 21.45 crore) and Bharathiar University (Rs 19.64 crore).
Thiruvalluvar University has been granted Rs 11.7 crore and has benefitted more than UoM. These universities were established way after UoM. This is unfair and the basis on which this allocation has been made should be divulged,” said a senior professor of the university.
Currently, UoM is managing majority of its expenses through the revenue earned by its Institute of Distance Education (IDE) and from the interests it receives from its corpus funds.
“Just because the Madras University has corpus funds available due to its prudent financial management in yesteryears, it does not justify a reduction in its block grant allocation,” said a faculty member of the university.
The faculty members stated that the liberal funds granted to certain universities should be reduced. The state has formed a high-level committee to make recommendations on the determination of revision of block grants to state universities.
However, the G.O. issued for the formation of the committee states that the state is not obliged to fund the salary or pension of faculty in the universities, which has evoked widespread criticism from academicians.
“If the state is not obliged to pay the salaries of faculty in a state university, then how is it any different from a private university,” said C Murugan, general secretary, Madras University Teachers’ Association.
The highest amount of block grant of Rs 225.77 crore has been allotted to Annamalai University. Madurai Kamaraj University has been allocated Rs 8.71 crore, while Alagappa University and Mother Teresa Women’s University have been allocated a block grant of Rs 6.26 crore and Rs 7.16 crore respectively. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Periyar University and Tamil Nadu Open University have been provided a block grant of Rs 3.72 crore, Rs 4.13 crore and Rs 1.09 crore respectively.