Humah Khan for MuslimMirror.com
It may be a cruel joke that on one side, the Minority Affairs Minister announces the establishment of 5 world-class universities for minorities , while on the other side; Aligarh Muslim University’s Murshidabad Centre is on the verge of closure because of financial crises as the Human Resource Development Ministry did not release its remaining fund of around Rs 50 crore.
If the fund earmarked for Murshidabad campus of the Aligarh Muslim University [AMU] is not followed by its disbursement by the end of March, it may threaten the career of more than 500 students studying in the campus. Consequently, it would shatter the dreams of theose students. The campus, located in the erstwhile constituency of President Pranab Mukherjee in Jangipur, was inaugurated in 2014 by the President himself.
The campus received Rs. 60 crore of the Rs. 107.80 crore earmarked for the institution in August 2013. However, the director of the University, Dr. Badaruddoza, has no idea if it will receive the rest of the fund by March 31 this year.
Since the Modi government rose to power with the slogan ” Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”, minorities are feeling the crunch as they often remain at the receiving end.
The fund was given under the 12th Five-Year Plan. If the rest of the amount Rs. 47.80 crore does not reach to the administrative authorities of the Murshidabad Centre by March 31, it would lapse. Five-Year Plans will come to an end with the conclusion of 12th Plan on March 31, according to Finance Ministry’s earlier circular.
The dearth of finance would disrupt the educational activities of the campus as the University Administration may not be in a position to pay remuneration of about 30 faculty members and 27 non-teaching staff.
Following non-payment, if the teachers leave, it would adversely affect the students, predominantly from the minority community, studying in Law, Education, and Management departments respectively. About 180 students are studying BA [LLB] in a five-year integrated course, about 80 studying Education while 300, including 80 girls, are in the MBA course at the Murshidabad Centre. Amidst this chaos, a reply from Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Human Resource Development Ministry, is awaited. The Campus was set up in Murshidabad as this Muslim majority district has little or no access to good quality education. But nevertheless, the monetary crisis will certainly become a major hindrance in the proper functioning of the campus.
The critical situation of the Murshidabad campus exposes the tall claims that were made by the Minority Minister as he has no time to see what is happening in the existing minority institutions because of his government’s apathy and insensitivity.
We have to recognise the vision of SIR SYED AHMAD KHAN
It’s so dangerous , MHRD should release fund immediately.