Nobody in Varsity, HED knows reasons for inordinate delay
*Students deprived of benefits of RUSA funds
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 16: Assets worth several crores of rupees created in the Constituent Colleges of the Cluster University of Jammu (CLUJ) under Centrally Sponsored Scheme—Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) have remained unutilized during the past several years because of absolute non-seriousness at the level of respective Principals, concerned authorities in the Varsity and Higher Education Department.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that several years back canteen blocks were created in five Constituent Colleges of the Cluster University of Jammu namely GGM Science College, MAM College, Women College Gandhi Nagar, Commerce College and Government College of Education by the Roads and Buildings Department by utilizing the funds sanctioned under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Scheme of the Government of India.
In the Women College Gandhi Nagar even hostel block was constructed at a cost of Rs 3 crore to provide accommodation to the students from far-flung areas. However, till date all these assets have not been put to use mainly because those who remained at the helm of affairs in all these colleges during all these years never bothered to ensure taking over of the assets from the R&B Department by seeking instructions from the Higher Education Department (HED).
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In the GGM Science College, the canteen block is being used to run the branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank while as in other colleges similar blocks remain under lock and key and in the absence of proper handing over and taking over exercise the same cannot be put to use formally, sources said, adding “even after not being put to proper use for the intended purpose these blocks now require maintenance for which additional funds will be needed by the Higher Education Department”.
Due to non-seriousness at the level of respective Principals of these Constituent Colleges, concerned authorities in the Cluster University of Jammu and Higher Education Department, students of these institutions have been deprived of the benefits of Centrally Sponsored Scheme’s funds, sources further said and asked what was the necessity of creating these assets if these were not to be put to use for the students welfare.
When contacted, Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University of Jammu Prof Bechan Lal confirmed that assets worth several crores of rupees created under RUSA have not been properly utilized during the past so many years and said, “the assets are required to be taken over by the Higher Education Department from the executing agency after detailed analysis of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and then handed over to the Principals of Constituent Colleges of the University”.
“We don’t know whether the DPRs were prepared after consultation of Principals of these Colleges as such Principals cannot directly take over the assets from R&B Department”, he further said, adding “recently Registrar Cluster University of Jammu discussed the issue of unutilized assets and have passed necessary instructions to the R&B Department”.
In response to a question, the Vice-Chancellor said, “I don’t know the reason behind inordinate delay in handing over of the assets by the R&B Department but we have once again brought the issue to the notice of the Higher Education Department and I am hopeful of positive outcome shortly”.
Registrar, Cluster University of Jammu Ankur Mahajan, when contacted, said, “this is the fact that these assets have remained unutilized till date but I am not in a position to comment on the reasons behind such a long delay as I have been posted as Registrar recently”.
When approached, Special Secretary, Higher Education Department Dr Ravi Shanker Sharma too confirmed non-utilization of assets for the intended purpose. “I have started inquiring about the reasons behind inordinate delay and the issue will be sorted out shortly”, he said, adding “I have also received complaints in this regard from the present Principals of these colleges. We will ensure that students start receiving the benefits of the assets created by utilizing RUSA funds”.
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