A recent circular issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to all central universities talks about a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the commission, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the institutes.
The tripartite MoU promises to provide enhanced autonomy and delegation of financial powers and also facilitate assistance from the government and the UGC.
“The institution has made the commitment of Performance Evaluation Targets based on certain assumptions in respect of release of grants from the government and the UGC, and raising of other resources, including loan from the Higher Education Financing Agency for expansion of infrastructural facilities, which has a direct bearing on the performance of the institution committed in this MoU,” read the UGC circular.
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Loan system
The MoU, however, is being seen by many as yet another step by the Centre to make its presence felt within the universities.
Rajib Ray, president of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) said: “Once this tripartite MoU is cleared by the university, it will result in the bureaucratisation of the academic system. Initially, there were grants that were received from the UGC. Now, with the loan system, the fee structure will become exorbitant, which will impose stringent financial stress on many.”
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A DU professor who did not wish to be named said, “The moment ‘loans’ come into the picture, there will be a considerable rise in the fee structure which will essentially mean that for many of the students it will become a burden.”
‘Not yet signed’
“It is a paradigm shift and is the last nail in the coffin for the autonomy of universities,” added Mr. Ray.
Officials from DU, however, maintained that the university had not yet signed the MoU. “We are looking into it and there is a committee that is studying the memorandum. It has not yet been finalised, but should be done soon as the last date is either approaching or has already lapsed,” said M. K. Pandit, Dean of Sciences and one of the members of the committee.