UGC’s revised funding formula will hit students, say teachers

NEW DELHI:Disappointed over the seventh pay revision recommendations and the recently notified Union Grant Commission (UGC) draft regulations on service conditions, thousands of teachers from several teachers’ bodies today marched in the national Capital to put pressure on the Central government to “revisit” and revise some of the contentious clauses, including the one pertaining to 30-70 funding pattern to central university.

Teachers and students from various universities participate in a Shiksha Bachao Rally under the banner of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) at Parliament Street to protest against the anti-education policies of the Central Government, in New Delhi on Friday. Tribune photo: Manas Ranjan Bhui

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 16

Disappointed over the seventh pay revision recommendations and the recently notified Union Grant Commission (UGC) draft regulations on service conditions, thousands of teachers from several teachers’ bodies today marched in the national Capital to put pressure on the Central government to “revisit” and revise some of the contentious clauses, including the one pertaining to 30-70 funding pattern to central university.

The Centre's new funding pattern for central universities is going to eventually burden the students, argued teachers at the joint rally of the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA), the Delhi University and Colleges Karmachari Union (DUCKU), the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) and other student groups.

Faculty and students of Ambedkar University, JNU, Jamia, Aligarh Muslim University, IGNOU and teachers from Punjab and Uttarakhand, too, joined the rally for “saving public education” under the banner of the All India Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisations (AIFUCTO) and Federation of Central Universities' Teachers' Associations (FEDCUTA).

The protest also saw participation from across the political spectrum, including AAP, BJP CPI, CPI (M), Congress, JD (U) and RJD, who expressed their solidarity with the issues agitating the university community across the country.

Terming the new funding pattern as “retrograde”, DUTA president Rajib Ray said, the central universities are expected to generate 30 per cent of the financial resources on account of the 7th pay revision though the government has stated in uncertain terms that the provision is to encourage effective growth of higher education institutions and the government will later fill the gap in generation of funds if any.

Nevertheless, the move will immediately affect not only the disbursement of salaries, but will also force varsities to raise funds through student fees and introduction of self-financing courses, which in turn will lead towards commercialisation, Prof Rajib claimed.

Pointing out that exponential fee hike will push a large section of students out of higher education, DUTA president said there have been several contentious provisions in the recommendations of the seventh pay panel.

Teachers also expressed concerns over the government’s move to reduce funds for the state universities which have been allocated only 50 per cent of central assistance and for a reduced period of 39 months as opposed to 80 per cent for 51 months in the last pay revision.