Liberate ‘Saraswati’ on the lines of ‘Laxmi’

Abstract

I have been heading a University Recognised Management Institute for the past 20 years; in the capacity of its Director. During these years, I have found that in the name of decentralisation, actually more and more centralisation has taken place in the higher education sector. Thus, clearly we are moving in a reverse gear. As the director, I have to interact and deal with a dozen government offices to get the job done, which is like an obstacle race. My fees are decided by Shikshan Shulka Samiti. My admissions are through the state government C.E.T. with a further cap that I have to get my merit list approved by Pravesh Niyantran Samiti. I have to select and recruit my teaching staff through a University Selection Committee prior to which my roster is approved by three agencies namely the B.C. Cell of University, Council Hall and Mantralya. I have to give fee concessions to reserved category students while they take admissions into my Institute, but I have to claim and recover their fees from District Social Welfare Office by following a tedious, cumbersome and lengthy process. Further while my institute is 100% non grant self financing one, the said fee reimbursement from the District Social Welfare Office takes 3 years thus blocking my funds to the tune of Rs. 1.40 crores at any given point of time. At the other end, I have to pay salary to my teaching and non-teaching staff by following 6th Pay Commission Norms. Thus, it could be seen that I have hardly any control over selection of my students, staff or deciding my fee structure. My  precious 75% time is lost in administrative hurdles leaving only 25% time for teaching and research. Director of an institute could be termed as “Lambi Race Ka Ghoda !”