JOIN USMysuru varsity collects centenary fee despite govt largesse
The University of Mysore has started collecting funds from students and research scholars for its centenary celebrations next year. This despite the fact that the State government has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the purpose.
The university’s move has attracted criticism from the student community. Students claim that the same would be a burden on them.
The varsity had decided to collect different sums from graduate, post-graduate students and research scholars at a meeting of the Fee Committee in March this year. Directions have already been issued to affiliated colleges and post-graduate centres to collect the ‘University Centenary Year’ fee.
According to sources, Rs 600 will be collected from degree students during their course. While first year students have to pay Rs 200 each for three years, students in second year degree courses have to pay Rs 300 each as the fee for two years. The fee for post-graduate and BEd students is Rs 1,000.
While there is concession in other fees for SC/ST and economically backward students in the overall fee structure, it is mandatory for them to pay the centenary year fee, as per the prospectus issued by Yuvaraja’s College, an affiliated institution of the varsity.
A professor at the Hassan post-graduate centre of the varsity said that the decision to collect the special fee was taken last year. “However, the Fee Committee of the varsity sent a circular regarding the same only after the admission process was complete for the academic year 2014-15. Therefore, the fee is being collected from this academic year,” he said.
Since the government has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the same, the university should not collect funds from students, as a majority of them are from economically weaker sections, he said. The varsity has also sought funds from the Central government and its alumni associations, he said. The employees of the university have been directed to contribute their one day’s salary towards the centenary fund, he added.
Avinash Kumar (name changed), a student seeking admission at the Yuvaraja’s College, confirmed that the fee was being collected during the ongoing admission process.
Ravi B of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation said that the varsity was “extorting” the fee from students.
“The varsity lecturers are not keen on contributing their one day’s salary. So, it is not right for UoM to impose it on students,” he said. The organisation had petitioned the varsity against collecting such fees from students. However, the varsity did not heed its request, he said. Students are now forced to stage a protest against the decision after the admission process is complete, Ravi said.
‘Not mandatory’
Devaraja T S, Director of the Hassan PG centre, said that the fee was not mandatory. “However, the fee is being collected,” he said. Students had been paying the fees voluntarily, he claimed, despite directions in the prospectus issued by the centre, regarding the fees.
C Basavaraju, Registrar of UoM, said circulars had been issued to colleges affiliated to the varsity to collect “token amounts” from students for the centenary celebrations.