T.N. univerisities face financial crisis as UGC refuses to release funds: Appavu

T.N. univerisities face financial crisis as UGC refuses to release funds: Appavu

The Hindu Bureau

TIRUNELVELI 03.01.205

The universities in Tamil Nadu are encountering acute financial crisis as the University Grants Commission (UGC) refuses to release funds, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu has said.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday after welcoming a group of non-resident Tamils visiting various culturally important places in the State under ‘Vaerkalai Thaedi’ programme, Mr. Appavu said six State universities were functioning without Vice-Chancellors even as the UGC was denying funds to the universities.

The UGC, which was keen on including its representative in the VC search panel, was refusing to release sufficient funds to the universities in Tamil Nadu. Consequently, these universities, including Tamil University, Thanjavur, Madurai Kamaraj University and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, were encountering acute financial crisis.

‘Rule not binding’

“The UGC’s recommendations on including its representative in the VC search panel need not be honoured, as per a Supreme Court verdict in a case pertaining to the State of Bihar. Since the UGC’s move to include its representative in the VC search panel did not succeed, it is refusing to release funds to Tamil Nadu universities,” Mr. Appavu said.

Since the State Government was keen on weeding out the ‘unacceptable proposals’ in the Centre’s New Education Policy, the State had refused to accept it in its present form. However, the Centre was acting in a vengeful manner by not releasing funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), he said.

‘No funds for gift’

“As the Centre is not releasing funds to Tamil Nadu in a just manner to meet its genuine needs, the State Government cannot give ₹1,000 along with the ‘Pongal gift’. The people have understood this issue,” said Mr. Appavu.

When asked about BJP president K. Annamalai’s observation that he could not understand how the funds being allocated for school education in the State Budget were being spent even as infrastructure in the government schools were poor, he said Mr. Annamalai could get all information from the School Education Department website where the details of expenditure had been posted.

“He can also get it under the Right to Information Act. Every rupee being allocated by the State for a purpose is being spent in judicious way,” Mr. Appavu said.

He also observed that the alleged sexual assault on a student on Anna University campus was being politicised by the Opposition parties even as the police had arrested the accused immediately. “Since the rule of law has been ensured in Tamil Nadu, the police, after arresting the accused, are investigating the case to get him punished in the court of law. Those who are now blaming the government for political reasons will appreciate it after the court verdict,” Mr. Appavu said.