NU passes Rs380cr budget, ‘raw deal’ to students

Nagpur: The Nagpur University (NU) on Thursday passed a Rs380 crore budget after a long debate on allocating more funds for student-centric activities rather than spending more on security, infrastructure and statues.
Dean of commerce faculty Vinayak Deshpande tabled the budget with an estimated deficit of Rs41.44 crore for the financial year 2019-20. A major chunk (87.50%) would be spent on maintenance account. As per the estimates for the ensuing financial year, Rs293.60 crore would be spent on maintenance, development Rs36.05 crore and Rs11.80 crore on independent projects. The income is Rs341.45 crore while expenditure stands at Rs382 crore, creating a deficit of Rs41.44 crore.

Following tabling of the proposed budget, the Senate objected to NU allocating just Rs23 lakh on availing hostel facilities, Rs1.65 crore on student welfare fund, Rs1 crore scholarship and Rs5 lakh on students guidance centre. As compared to this, Rs5 crore was allocated for security system and Rs2 crore for buying cleanliness tools.

The general funds too has dipped to Rs33.88 crore as on March 2018 while it was Rs54.04 crore last year. Members Manmohan Bajpai and Vishnu Changde opposed utilization of general funds for paying contractual teachers.

Member Baban Taywade asked why the administration has deployed so many security personnel. Bajpai and Changde pointed out that the sensitive exam section didn’t have tight security while the main building housing VC office had more personnel.

Bajpai also said that instead of allocating funds to installing busts and statutes, aid should be started in the name of well-known personalities.

Deshpande clarified that no money was wasted and the university was utilizing all funds appropriately. He said the funds were in addition to those being received from different agencies and government for students.