The Delhi University Principals’ Association has urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to release the grant in aid for the 12 fully funded colleges, so that salaries of the teaching and non-teaching staff can be released without any further delay. The Association has also sought the intervention of the Vice Chancellor to take up the matter with the highest authorities in the university, since the government’s decision in withholding the grant was illegal, and in violation of the norms laid down by the University Grants Commission. The issue pertains to the colleges which receive 100 percent aid from the Delhi government, and include some institutions such as Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, that have made a mark, both at the national and international level. The Aam Aadmi Party during the run up to the poll campaign had received tremendous support for its initiatives in various spheres, including power and water supply, mohalla clinics and education. There is no doubt that the AAP administration had done exemplary work in these areas, and it was in recognition of its commitment that people of the city made it victorious once again with a thumping majority.
Both in school and college education, the AAP has achieved many times more than its predecessor governments, and therefore must address this serious problem regarding the payment of salaries to its colleges now. For some odd reason, the Delhi government has issued an “Order/Permission” to the college administrations to exhaust the students’ money, accumulated over many years under the Students Society Fund, which is meant for the activities such as campus placements, skill enhancement, career counselling and gender sensitisation. This fund is also utilised in meeting the expenditure of the students with special needs, extracurricular activities, cultural functions, student exchange programmes, training the women students for selfdefence and maintenance of classroom infrastructure for which no grants are available. The direction that Grants in Aid (GIA) for the salaries will only be released after the Students Society Fund is exhausted will completely stop the activities for ability enhancement, soft skill learning and promotion of cross-cultural understanding among the students, so imperative for the comprehensive personality development.
The Principals’ Association has also condemned the linkage between conduct of special audit and the release of GIA for salary. It has observed that audit was a routine affair and already three types of audit (Statutory audit, LFA audit of GNCTD, and CAG) are conducted periodically and as such no such linkage has ever existed. The contention that GIA would be released after the completion of the special audit is illegal and against the current practices and rules. These are difficult times but it is does not mean that the administration should come out with ideas which are contrary to the objectives, that served as the guiding principles, when these institutions were opened. In fact, the Delhi government colleges, have been doing exceedingly well, and in many ways are at par with institutions which are much older, and thus enjoy reputation built over the years. The CM should get this matter examined and resolved at the earliest. This would be in the interest of his own government, which he has run with efficiency and dedication.