The Delhi government has allocated an extra Rs 100 crore for 12 colleges entirely sponsored by the Delhi University (DU). It was released with Chief Minister Atishi’s consent and attempts to address continuing financial difficulties that have impeded operations and disrupted faculty and staff perks, authorities said.
The government released the first Rs 100 crore tranche for colleges in April last year, followed by the second tranche in July. The government and these institutions have a long-running feud, with the former insisting that funding be provided only once governing bodies are established under the laws. However, teachers have accused the administration of delaying salary payments.
The most recent tranche is part of a bigger budgetary provision of over Rs 400 crore that the government has allotted to these colleges for the current fiscal year. “Since the AAP administration took power, funding for these colleges has increased. In 2014-15, these colleges were granted Rs 132 crore, which has now been enhanced to over Rs 400 crore in the current fiscal year, according to a government statement.
“Under the guidance of (former CM) Arvind Kejriwal, education has always been our top priority,” added Atishi. She underlined that education has received the greatest percentage of the state’s budget every year since the AAP took office. The emphasis has not been only on basic and secondary schools, but also on higher education.
The government has established three new universities and expanded existing ones. “The 12 fully funded DU colleges play a crucial role in higher education in Delhi,” according to her.
In recent years, there have been claims of financial mismanagement at several of these colleges, as well as concerns with delayed salaries and stalled medical and pension benefits for professors and staff. crore in the third quarter for these 12 Delhi University colleges,” said a statement.
According to the Indian Express, the government stated in January that financing would be approved only if these colleges were de-affiliated from DU and integrated into one of Delhi’s state universities. The announcement came after DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh wrote to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stating that the colleges would remain at the university and that the state should continue to pay them.
Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Maharaja Agrasen College, Maharshi Valmiki College of Education, Shaheed Rajguru College, and Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies are the 12 fully funded colleges.