TISS, 7 other deemed varsities face fund crunch

ISSUE UGC, HRD ministry working out new funding policy, leading to delay

MUMBAI: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), one of the eight deemed universities funded by the government, is suffering from a severe fund crunch, with professors at the institute saying their salaries have been delayed and maintenance work at the campuses affected.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) are in the process of working out a new policy to fund deemed varsities, resulting in the delay in funding.

Till recently, deemed universities received funds from the UGC as well as the government. TISS received a grant to the tune of `50 crore from the UGC in 2014.

“We are reviewing the framework of funding deemed universities which is why there have been issues with releasing funds. We are aware of the problems faced by the institutes that depend solely on public VED PRAKASH, UGC chairperson funds and will devise a way out soon,” said UGC chairperson Ved Prakash.

TISS has had to dip in its reserve funds and apply for loans to make ends meet, a member of the administrative department said.

In a letter written by TISS director S Parasuraman to the higher education secretary last month, he said basic operational costs to run the institute were under strain and asked the HRD ministry to release funds directly.

However, when HT contacted Parasuraman, he said he did not wish to discuss the matter further. “There were issues and they have been taken care of,” he said.

However, some faculty members say the insufficient funds have cost the institute dear.

“The institute has expansion plans for some of its new campuses and courses which have been put on hold due the fund crunch. No new recruitments have been made while the pensions of several professors are still pending. The director has conveyed to the UGC several times the problems we are facing but little has been done,” said a professor.

Other deemed universities facing similar problems are Avinashilingam University, Coimbatore; Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra; Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad; Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Delhi; Gandhi Gram Rural Institute in Tamil Nadu; Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati and Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar.