Chandigarh: Taking a U-turn, the Haryana government on Friday withdrew it prior order Asking state universities to become self-sufficient by generating their own funds and reducing dependence on the government for funding.
In a letter addressed to the vice-chancellors of all state universities falling under the ambit of higher and technical education, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Higher Education Department, Anand Mohan Sharan informed them that his earlier letter dated May 29 was titled “State To make universities self-reliant” has been withdrawn.
“I (ACS) am directed to inform you that the above letter stands withdrawn with immediate effect,” the letter said.
The move was welcomed by university teachers’ unions, who said it was a victory for their unity.
Speaking to ThePrint on Saturday, Dr Vikas Siwach, president of the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organization (HFUCTO), said teachers across the state had opposed the move and are now happy that the government has finally made up its mind. Have changed.
“It was even more surprising that the letter of May 29 came at a time when the Haryana Chief Minister, along with his Punjab counterpart and the Punjab Governor, was demanding a share in Panjab University, Chandigarh, for Haryana, and asking them to fight the financial crisis. Were offering money for. ,” Siwach said.
Highlighting the “division”, he said that, on the one hand, the government wanted to starve its own universities, and on the other, offered funds for Punjab University.
In a letter issued on May 29, the Additional Chief Secretary said that “the state government desires that all universities in the state move towards self-reliance and reduce dependence on government funds.”
“For this, universities will raise funds from alumni, CSR, private-public projects, research grants, patents, commercial use of unused land of universities, online education and distance learning, encourage industry-academia collaboration and promote entrepreneurship, etc. ” read the letter.
It added that universities can generate revenue from some in-built resources as all universities have complete infrastructure and sufficient land. The move was criticized by the teaching community.
(Editing by Richa Mishra)