The University Grants Commission has issued a list of universities that have failed to submit the expense report of the grants they have received under the General Development Assistance Scheme (GDAS)
The University Grants Commission has issued a list of universities that have failed to submit the expense report of the grants they have received under the General Development Assistance Scheme (GDAS) during the XII Plan period.
The list also shows the universities that have submitted the expense report but the University of Mumbai, which has been one of biggest beneficiaries with a grant of nearly Rs 33 crore, has not submitted the same. A MU spokesperson said that the grant utilisation report is ready and will be submitted by Tuesday.
According to the UGC notice, the GDAS grants are aimed at helping universities improve access, equity, quality, promotion of talent, skill development and stand alone schemes in the XIIth plan from 2012-17. Under this scheme grants are released to universities in an annual phased manner and would be continued throughout the five years on receipt of expense or grant utilisation reports from the universities.
In the case of MU, UGC had allocated Rs 33 crore at the start of the scheme in 2012 and also allocated Rs 13 crore for the same in the first two years, non-submission of the grant utilisation report has resulted in no funds being received for the past two years. Hence, students, academic staff and employees of the university who could have benefited from the grants have been kept away from it.
When asked about the matter, a university spokesperson said that the grants received under the GDAS had been fully utilised and was the only university in the state to have managed to do so. However, when asked why the university failed to submit the grant utilisation report the spokesperson said, “There were some technical problems but the report is ready and will be submitted to the UGC on Tuesday.”
