Karnataka Universities misusing funds: Basavaraj Rayareddy

Bengaluru: Universities  across the state are misusing funds on the pretext of building infrastructure, according to Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy. Releasing a booklet on his 100 days in office, the minister said this was true also of degree and engineering colleges and polytechnics.

“The Vice Chancellor of one university has spent Rs. 5 crore on only renovating his chamber. And a few other Vice Chancellors have misappropriated  funds to build their personal chambers, toilets and guest houses.  A college building was constructed on private property in  Shivamogga. If I give all the details, it will not end here. I will disclose all these irregularities very soon,” Mr. Rayareddy assured, adding that he had got a status report from all the institutions on their infrastructure and facilities. He disclosed that a master plan would be prepared to provide proper infrastructure to degree, polytechnic and engineering colleges in the state and  promised to introduce a Bill to regulate private universities.

The minister said the Karnataka Universities Act would be amended to bring in uniformity in rules for all universities and a committee headed by former Vice Chancellor  of Bengaluru University, Dr. N.R.Shetty was expected to file its report soon on the matter to the government.

Revealing that work was underway on drawing up a uniform calendar of events for all universities, he said this too would be implemented soon. Promising to distribute 30, 000 laptops  free to poor and meritorious students of  engineering colleges in the state within 45 days, he said the Chief Minister  had released Rs. 100 crore for the scheme that had nothing to do with a similar scheme of the social welfare department.

The minister also revealed that a Dr. Ambedkar School of Economics would be built  at a cost of 107 crore at the Bangalore University campus. All universities had been instructed to use paper produced by MSIL for marks cards and certificates as  it would save students around Rs. 100 to 200 when paying for them , he  added.