Haryana varsities’ grant cut evokes sharp reaction from students, Oppn

Students, teachers and Opposition leaders slammed the BJP-JJP coalition government in Haryana after it cut off grant to state universities and the finance department accorded its consent to the proposal of the administrative department to approve a loan of Rs 147.75 crore as the first instalment for the universities for 2022-23 financial year.

As per the latest development, the state universities will now have to bear their own expenses. Earlier, the Haryana government was giving grants of crores every year to these universities for administrative, academic and other works. Instead, the universities will now be given loans which will have to be returned within a stipulated time period.

BJP’s alliance partner Jannayak Janata Party (JJP)’s student wing, Indian National Student Organisation (INSO) national president Pradeep Deswal said government has been making all efforts to snatch autonomy of state universities.

Vikas Siwach, president of teaching union at MDU, Rohtak said the government had initially announced to initiate recruitment through the HSSC and HPSC and now, the government has been dragging its foot in giving grants to universities.

Congress general secretary and former Haryana minister Randeep Surjewala slammed the BJP-JJP government for giving assent to provide Rs 145.47 crore loan amount to the state universities. INLD’s lone MLA from Ellenabad, Abhay Singh Chautala and independent legislator from Meham, Balraj Kundu said instead of giving grants to universities, the state government had introduced a loan system for them. “We will protest against this government’s move inside and outside the assembly. This is an anti-students decision,” they added.