Hampi Kannada University.
Credit:DH Photo
Hosapete (Vijayanagara): Despite continuous letters to the government for grants due to a severe financial crisis, financial details show that Hampi Kannada University, a symbol of Kannada identity, is not in a state of complete collapse.
According to the report submitted by the university registrar to the State Audit and Accounts Department, the university received Rs 219.82 crore in revenue from various sources and spent Rs 205.39 crore over a period of five years between 2019 and 2024.
When dealing with transactions of crores of rupees, a plan outlining annual expenditure is necessary. It is called a budget. However, there is no practice of presenting this before syndicate members here. Some of the recently appointed syndicate members have taken this issue seriously. Sources say they have urged publishing a white paper on the matter.
The Comptroller has objected to the grants used in the 2022–23 financial year for violating the Karnataka Financial Code in the use of funds and has suggested recovering certain expenses. The audit for the 2023–24 financial year has yet to be conducted.
Vice-chancellor D V Paramashivamurthy said there is no tradition of presenting a budget, asking if it is a corporation. It is customary to spend within the allocated funds, and funds of Rs 2.50 crore are required immediately for clearing pending salary and loan repayment. "The proposal has already been sent from the Higher Education Department to the Finance Department, and I am confident that the government will release the funds", the VC added.
Rs 45 cr annual funds, revenue
Since September 2022, permanent staff have been receiving their salaries directly through HRMS. At Kannada University, approximately Rs 20 crore is being directly disbursed by the government.
This amount is not being included in the annual grant. Hence, it shows a reduced allocation. Including salary, pension, all grants and various fees along with income from interest, the university receives about Rs 45 crore in funding and revenue annually.
There is a perception that development grants mean building construction, with seven to eight out of the 24 existing buildings on campus remaining unused. Instead of focusing on research, demands for grants continue to revolve around buildings leading to pressure on the government with claims that the annual development grant of Rs 1.90 crore is insufficient.