Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 5: Facing serious financial constraints, the Jammu and Kashmir state government has failed to release funds sanctioned for Rashtriya Ucchtar Shiksha Abhiyaan (RUSA), delaying establishment of two cluster universities and up-gradation of several colleges.
Sources informed Early Times that for the implementation of centrally sponsored scheme RUSA, State Higher Education Council (SHEC) was formulated and an amount to the tune of Rs. 23.37 Crores was released by Union Human Resource Ministry.
"This allocation includes Rs. 4 Crores as preparatory grants, which was already released into the account of SHEC and consultants were engaged and office of RUSA directorate were established and baseline survey was started. An amount of nearly Rs. 46 Lakhs has been spent so far", sources said.
They further added that an amount of Rs. 11 Crores was sanctioned in August 2014, while in the month of February an amount of Rs. 8.25 Crores was also released by Union Human Resource Ministry for further implementation of RUSA, out of which not a single penny has been received by SHEC.
"The bills to the tune of nearly Rs. 19 Crores were pending with government Treasury department, which has not been releasing amount to SHEC, delaying the further implementation of RUSA", sources said.
"The total amount of Rs. 23.37 Crores also includes Rs. 8.23 Crores for establishment of two cluster Universities, one each in Jammu and Srinagar. Though Rs. 8.23 Crores was released by Union HRD Ministry and the bills were pending with Treasury, which has not been depositing the same into the official account of SHRC, resulting in delay in establishment of cluster universities", sources said.
Moreover, the amount of Rs. 23 Crores also included infrastructure grants to Jammu and Kashmir University, amount for up-gradation of three existing colleges to Model Degree Colleges, infrastructure grants to 22 colleges and funds for vocationalization of Higher Education, sources said, adding that but not any work is being done in absence of funds. |
