Anarchic Governor, negligent state Govt and the condition of universities in Tamilnadu

Mirdhula

Universities have always played an indispensable role in the intellectual and social development of the nation, contributing significantly to its overall growth and progress over time. Having clearly understood this, RSS-BJP’s Sangh Parivar gangs have been targeting universities, plotting to attack them today. Apparently, the establishment also believes that universities are key battlegrounds for ideological supremacy. Their strategy allegedly includes appointing politically aligned Vice-Chancellors and filling academic bodies with Sangh ideologues.

Appointment of VCs:

Anna University, Annamalai University, Bharathiar University, Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Education University, and University of Madras, six state universities in TN have been functioning without VCs. The major contention in the appointment is that the governor wants a UGC nominee in the search committees to which the state is not agreeing. The BJP government is allegedly attempting to appoint RSS individuals as vice-chancellors through the governor, utilizing the UGC nominee link. This move is seen as an effort to exert influence over universities and promote a particular ideology. The Governor of TN issued a sudden announcement about replacing the existing three-member search committee with a fourth person recommended by the UGC Chairman, without consulting the state government. The announcement was withdrawn due to opposition from various quarters. However, even after several months, the Governor has refused to appoint Vice-Chancellors for these universities.

As a result, the day-to-day functioning of the university has been affected. For example, in the University of Madras, all the files and letters of research students that are supposed to be approved in a maximum of 15 days remain unapproved for months. The theses submitted by more than 350 research students have not been sent to foreign and domestic examiners for examination, and approved and recommended theses have not been allowed for Public Viva-Voce. According to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report for 2020-21, the state has produced the highest number of Ph.D. scholars (3,206) that academic year. However, the current issues prevailing in universities may significantly reduce the number of Ph.D. holders in Tamil Nadu.

Financial cuts:

In 2018, the then Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) repealed the UGC Act 1956 and released a draft bill to create the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) 2018, which would replace UGC. It was stated that universities should generate funds on their own or take loans. Here, a basic question arises for us: How can a university generate funds on its own?

In the past 10 years, state universities in TN have been struggling with severe financial constraints. The UGC has stopped allocating funds to state universities. Moreover, the central government has reduced various financial allocations that should be provided to state government’s higher education institutions. Also, the state government’s higher education sector has stopped providing funding to universities, citing financial audits and several other reasons. As per rules, if an institution receives more than 51% of its revenue as grants from state or central government, it is treated as a government institution and is exempted from paying income tax. However, due to thousands of audit objections, state universities in TN have not received grants from the Tamil Nadu government. Because of this, the I-T department is considering state universities as private institutions and has levied a tax in crores. University administrations are placing the burden on students through fee hikes, citing financial difficulties as the reason. The examination fee, admission fee, hostel fee, and fees for research students have been increased multiple times. This is an act of deceiving poor students who come with hope towards government educational institutions while remembering their higher education dream. Among students from various economic backgrounds, the fee hike severely impacts poor students. Additionally, professors and other staff are being appointed on a contract basis without following proper recruitment procedures. Hostels are being outsourced without renovation or proper maintenance of buildings. These are harsh realities happening in almost all universities today.

Governor’s Intervention:

The Governor of Tamil Nadu R.N. Ravi has been consistently intervening in the state’s education system, overstepping his authority. The Governor claims that education in Tamil Nadu is in a poor state from primary to research levels while deliberately delaying the appointment of vice-chancellors in six universities within the state. After assuming office as Governor, he has chaired the Vice-Chancellors’ conference three times thus far. Tamil Nadu students strongly opposed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020; consequently, a State Education Policy (SEP) was formulated. Despite this opposition, the Governor has disregarded TN students’ sentiments while discussing implementing NEP 2020 at those conferences.

Recently ABVP South State President Savitha Rajesh has been appointed as Syndicate Member of Nellai Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. This is not just about one nomination; it is part of a plan to place right-wing affiliates in key university positions. Periyar University’s Vice-Chancellor Jagannathan has been embroiled in various controversies and corruption cases; despite his term ending, he continues to hold this position with support from the governor. Consequently, this university has seen a significant decline in student enrollment this year.

Professors Vacancies

University professor positions have been lying vacant for years; since 1999 positions have not been filled through the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB). Despite repeated notifications regarding these vacancies being issued over time, processes have been delayed significantly—issues such as State Eligibility Test (SET) not being conducted for eight years have contributed further delays in filling professor positions across numerous departments within universities lacking heads of departments altogether. Simultaneously 353 professors are working full-time across five to eleven colleges affiliated with Anna University – a shocking anomaly indicating misuse of power/resources resulting directly affecting students’ higher education/university admissions negatively overall; immediate action should be taken by government officials towards filling these vacant positions if academic standards are ever expected to improve within this context.

Instead of addressing these issues directly at hand however both state & central governments continue shifting blame onto each other—this blame game proves unproductive hindering progress towards resolving existing problems effectively; it’s essential both levels work together while taking responsibility for actions undertaken if solutions are ever going be found ultimately improving situation overall. In conclusion regarding Tamil Nadu context specifically blame-shifting affects lives directly impacting students-both governments must prioritize education & well-being above political differences moving forward together collaboratively towards resolution efforts aimed improving conditions and quality in a way ultimately benefiting future generations ahead!