Karnataka colleges spent only 44% UGC funds
TNN | Dec 2, 2019, 06.08 AM IST
BENGALURU: While educationists lament lack of funds, the University Grants Commission (UGC) allocated Rs 19.8 crore to Karnataka colleges in the past seven years, but they utilised less than half of it, just Rs 8.8 crore.
Of the 513 colleges eligible for funds in the state, only around 200 used the allocation optimally. Government colleges account for huge sums of unutilised funds.
TNN | Dec 2, 2019, 06.08 AM IST
BENGALURU: While educationists lament lack of funds, the University Grants Commission (UGC) allocated Rs 19.8 crore to Karnataka colleges in the past seven years, but they utilised less than half of it, just Rs 8.8 crore.
Of the 513 colleges eligible for funds in the state, only around 200 used the allocation optimally. Government colleges account for huge sums of unutilised funds.
In reply to an RTI plea, UGC said the amount was released under three schemes — construction of women’s hostels, for sports infrastructure & equipment and general development assistance.
Colleges must return unused funds: UGC
While Rs 11.8 crore was announced as general development assistance, only Rs 6.4 crore was released and Rs 4.9 crore utilised. Under the Rs 5.4 crore allocated for development of sports infrastructure, only Rs 2.4 crore released and Rs 2.1 crore was used. Under the scheme to construct hostels, only Rs 1.7 crore of the total Rs 2.5 crore available was put to use. The amount released but unitilised has to be returned to UGC.
UGC sources said the released amount falling short of allocation is due to colleges not submitting plans and seeking funds.
While the time limit to utilise these funds expired in March 2019, the statutory body extended it to March 2020. However, officials don’t think there will be much of a change in the next three months.
The RTI reply also points out that UGC, time and again, apprised the department of collegiate education and state higher education council about allocation getting lapsed for lack of initiative from colleges.
“The reasons for the lapse vary but are mostly operational matters like frequent change of principals affecting timely completion of projects. The lack of good leadership is a major factor,” said an official of the higher education department.
In many colleges, teachers close to retirement are appointed as principals and they don’t want to take up new responsibilities. There are also no adequate teaching staff who can take up new projects. The bureacracy in construction agencies (also government bodies) makes it difficult for projects to start. All these lead to colleges not utilising the amount released,” he added.
Colleges must return unused funds: UGC
While Rs 11.8 crore was announced as general development assistance, only Rs 6.4 crore was released and Rs 4.9 crore utilised. Under the Rs 5.4 crore allocated for development of sports infrastructure, only Rs 2.4 crore released and Rs 2.1 crore was used. Under the scheme to construct hostels, only Rs 1.7 crore of the total Rs 2.5 crore available was put to use. The amount released but unitilised has to be returned to UGC.
UGC sources said the released amount falling short of allocation is due to colleges not submitting plans and seeking funds.
While the time limit to utilise these funds expired in March 2019, the statutory body extended it to March 2020. However, officials don’t think there will be much of a change in the next three months.
The RTI reply also points out that UGC, time and again, apprised the department of collegiate education and state higher education council about allocation getting lapsed for lack of initiative from colleges.
“The reasons for the lapse vary but are mostly operational matters like frequent change of principals affecting timely completion of projects. The lack of good leadership is a major factor,” said an official of the higher education department.
In many colleges, teachers close to retirement are appointed as principals and they don’t want to take up new responsibilities. There are also no adequate teaching staff who can take up new projects. The bureacracy in construction agencies (also government bodies) makes it difficult for projects to start. All these lead to colleges not utilising the amount released,” he added.
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