AAP govt releases Rs 100 crore for 12 Delhi University colleges
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Sunday released Rs 100 crore as part of the third-quarter funding for its fully-funded Delhi University colleges.
The release, approved by Chief Minister Atishi, is part of the Rs 400 crore budgetary provision made by the Delhi Government for financial year 2024-25 to support 12 Delhi University colleges.
Atishi, while approving the release, said, “Under the guidance of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, education has always been the top priority for the AAP government. Since the formation of the Kejriwal government in Delhi, the largest share of the budget has been dedicated to education every year.”
‘Funding has tripled’
Since the AAP government came to power, the funding for these colleges has tripled. In 2014-15, these colleges were allocated Rs 132 crore, which has now increased to Rs 400 crore in the current financial year. — Atishi, CM
‘CM is making false claims’
The released funds are neither sufficient to pay salaries for the next quarter nor to cover arrears that have accumulated over the past several years. It is unfortunate that the minister is making false claims when she knows the actual situation of these colleges. — Teachers’ Association
“Alongside schools, the AAP government has focused on higher education by opening three new universities and expanding existing ones. The 12 fully-funded Delhi University colleges play a crucial role in higher education,” she added.
Since the AAP government came to power, the funding for these colleges has tripled, she added. “In 2014-15, these colleges were allocated Rs 132 crore, which has now increased to Rs 400 crore in the current financial year,” she added.
Atishi assured that the government would not let teachers and students suffer due to management issues.
The 12 DU colleges include Acharya Narendra Dev College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Bhagini Nivedita College, Bhaskaracharya College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Maharaja Agrasen College, Maharishi Valmiki College, Shaheed Rajguru College and Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.
However, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) stated that the disbursal of funds was much less than the requirement. “The Delhi Government’s allocation of Rs 100 crore for the third quarter is significantly lower than the actual requirement. In the last quarter, there was a deficit, and no college could pay salaries for the month of September. These colleges are operating with half the strength of their teaching faculty; therefore, the funds are insufficient,” it said in a statement.
“The released funds are neither sufficient to pay salaries for the next quarter nor to cover arrears that have accumulated over the past several years. It is unfortunate that the minister is making false claims when she knows the actual situation of these colleges,” the statement added.
