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Bengal

JU V-C cries foul over bias in UGC fund distribution

Kolkata: Jadavpur University vice-chancellor Suranjan Das on Sunday alleged discrimination in the disbursement of funds on the part of the University Grants Commission (UGC). "Like other state universities, JU is also suffering from lack of funds. UGC does 65 percent allocation of its annual budget for only 47 central universities and 35 percent funding for 375 state universities. This is a reflection of the discriminatory nature of the UGC funding mechanism," Das said addressing the 62nd annual convocation of the university.
The vice-chancellor's comments assume significance as the former UGC chairman Ved Prakash, who was conferred Hony Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) by JU and former President Pranab Mukherjee, who was also conferred the honour were present. He pointed out that the former UGC chairman during his tenure had tried to bring a parity in the funding pattern of the UGC.
According to him, in JU's annual receipts of Rs 291.56 crore in 2016-17, the state government's share was 67.6 percent while the UGC had contributed only 19.5 percent. He further pointed out that the university was able to generate an amount of Rs 15.95 crore, or 5.47 percent of the total budget outlay of the university that helped them to carry on with the pursuit for excellence in research and academics. Das heaved praise on the state government for its financial aid and said: "It would not have been possible for the university to maintain its academic standards without the financial support of the state government." Mpost
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