THOUGH the universities (both central and state), the highest institutions of learning, have been accorded autonomous status in our education system, it is no more hidden that universities’ financial position as well as functioning  are subject to decisions by the state and central government.

Considered as one of volatile varsity campuses, for which aggressive student politics is being seen as a major reason by many of the people who are not connected to the university affairs, one wonders if they have ever pondered over why the universality campus has to be converted into a police cantonment every now and then.

The universities’ mission statement, also uploaded on its website states that it strives to cultivate the spirit of free enquiry, to foster independent and critical thinking, to be a repository of knowledge, to be an instrument of dissemination of knowledge and to promote the traditions, values enshrined in Indian heritage. Further, it strives to have a system of higher education which is rigorously intellectual and socially relevant. The university aims at providing opportunities, both through the formal and distance mode, to everyone irrespective of gender, race, creed, caste, or class. It is engaged in equipping students with relevant and appropriate skills, attitudes and experiences for meeting the challenges of life.

But can we expect independent functioning and critical thinking when varsity’s democratic character is being jeopardised and it has been rendered into just like any other state government’s department. The varsity’s financial dependence on state doesn’t allow the latter to dismantle the varsity’s independent character, which, sadly, is happening for the past many years.  

To manage the university functioning, we have several bodies such as executive council (EC), university court, academic council, board of studies, department standing committees and these have provisions for representations from all sections of the university.  

Unfortunately, EC, the highest decision making body is a plagued one. The government’s representatives in EC such as principal secretary, higher education and finance secretary usually remain absent from the monthly EC meetings and do not bother for presenting a proper picture of the institution’s condition.

Rather than giving eminent educationists and student’s representatives a chance to be there and discuss issues affecting the institution, the state government, just like any other corporation or board, has filled the EC with its loved ones, especially those who have been rejected by the people in elections to the EC and those who have no track record of showing any vision for betterment of education.

It is the effect of a plagued EC that many mal-practices are being allowed while enrolling students to research programmes. The University Grant Commission has set up clear-cut rules for admission to the M Phil and Ph D programmes but these rules are being flouted.

Many of the new courses are being introduced by violating all requisite processes. Despite paying hefty fee, students don’t have class rooms to sit in, and there is a deficiency of labs and teachers as well. In many cases, under qualified guest-faculty are being employed.

Students are made to suffer due to the delay in declaring results which is a failure of the university administration.

Besides lack of new journals, proper computer labs and even drinking water facility, students have to face the problem of scarcity of heaters which are an essential item in this city. The demand of keeping the main library open for 24 hours is being ignored.  

The issue of hostel accommodation is very serious. This university has the distinction of over 70% students being girls. But due to the shortage of hostels, the girl students are forced to live in inhuman conditions with four to six girls in one room meant for two or three students.

There are many issues facing the university. There are specified rules to govern the institution in a smoother way which are not followed.

Uundoubtedly, the recruitment of vice chancellor is the sole prerogative of the state government; there is a certain process to be followed for this purpose. But this process has never been followed in the recent past. The vice chancellors change as soon as there is a change at the helm of affairs of the state.

Further, not following the process laid down in the university statute, the appointments of subordinate officers including DS, DSW, chief warden, registrar, COE, dean colleges, dean planning etc are done on political lines. Closeness to political leaders is the qualification and not the seniority to be at these posts. Such appointees will only dance to the tunes of their bosses.

There are three main issues due to which the university has turned into a battle ground of student agitations. The first is ‘unprecedented’ fee hike, restoration of direct student union elections and the implication of education reforms in the name of Rashtriya Uchttar Shiksha Abiyan (RUSA).

The varsity officials seem to have gone overboard in implementing the recommendations of resource mobilization committee. For example if one has to get a consolidated mark sheet they have to pay Rs 500 which was earlier only Rs 30. The fee for special chance has increased from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000, for medical courses Rs 1000 to Rs 4000 and for confidential result one has to pay  Rs 1000 per result which was earlier only Rs 200.

The high fee will not help university in tackling financial crunch and ultimately the state government has to come forward to bail it out from the situation. So, this logic has no justification.

Secondly, the universities in neighbouring states are extending much better facilities than the HPU. More importantly, the governance, particularly the process of recruitment is not done on a fair basis.

The university’s annual budget is about Rs 110 crores while the state is providing only Rs 79 crores which is leading to an increasing debt. Bringing university out from this condition is not a big deal for the state if it honestly wants to do so.

The state has tried to impose RUSA, a flagship programme of the central government without creating the necessary organisational structure as required under the programme such as the creation of State Council for Higher Education (SCHE) and two subordinate bodies – State Project Directorate and Technical Support Group. Hasty implementation of this programme has created unrest not only among students but also in teachers. Conducting exams under new semester system and declaring result is proving a herculean task for the short staffed university.

The state of affairs in HPU could be gauged from the fact that about 246 posts in teaching faculty and more than 350 in non teaching staff are lying vacant at present.  

The prevailing atmosphere in this lone university providing multidisciplinary education in this hill state, calls for serious introspection of policies and recent decisions instead of mindless thrashing of students and attempts to curb the voices being raised.

For improving university’s fiscal health, other sources such as ministry of human resource development, University Grants Commission and organisations such as Indian Council of Social Sciences Research, Indian Council of Historical Research, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and department of science and technology should be tapped.

All types of funds should be brought under general accounts so that these could be utilised for the overall welfare of the university. Resources generated through fee for NRI and non-subsidised seats, and some financially well placed departments such as university institute of information technology, university institute of legal studies, international centre for distance and open learning should be included in universities total earnings and varsity should have free hand to utilize these funds.

The varsity officials must rethink on the decision of ‘unprecedented’ fee hike keeping in view the economic stratum of people of the state and hardships they face in making both ends meet.

And finally, the direct students’ election must be restored to maintain the democratic environment in the campus and ensure the proper representation of the all sections including teaching faculty, employees and students in various decision making bodies especially the EC to further improve the university’s functioning.