August 8, 2022
Dola Sen’s speech on The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Chairman, Sir, for allowing me to speak on this Bill, the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Since we are discussing the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill today, I would humbly request the Chancellor of the Vishwa Bharati University, another Central University, who is also our hon. Prime Minister,
to share his wisdom by being here. We will all benefit from his insights. This Bill seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 by converting the NRTI into a Central University. I am in favour of it, Sir. I am glad that the House is running today all through, Coming to the point, first of all, education being in the Concurrent List, I would like to know whether the concerned State Governments have been consulted to give their points of note of dissent or
consent towards this. If no, it is again unfortunate. It is good that another university is getting the status of a Central University. We are proud, but I have one clarification. Why should the Railway Department bear the cost? Why not the Education Ministry or UGC pay the same? However, there is a need to address some of the existing issues faced by various Central Universities. Most Central Universities across the country lack adequate infrastructure and face big fund shortages. Even the existing infrastructure in these universities is breaking down. The facilities provided to the residential students are also depleting day by day. The 2021-22 Budget allocation for education has decreased by six per cent as compared to 2020-21. This year, there was only a five per cent increase over the allocation of 2020-21. This is extremely low for post-pandemic recovery. The Budget for the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) was also cut from Rs. 3000 crores to Rs. 2000 crores. It is again unfortunate. A Centrally sponsored scheme, RUSA
supports State higher educational institutions, especially those that give priority to education in backward and aspirational districts. While I am speaking on this Bill, allow me to point out that earlier, six out of ten Bills were sent for parliamentary scrutiny. This was done to improve the quality of legislation. Now, Sir, only about one out of ten Bills is sent for scrutiny. This is a dangerous trend. Sir, I am speaking on the subject. For today’s Bill, I thank you,
Sir, for allowing adequate time and having a healthy discussion. Now, I would like to highlight how our universities are suffering because of such fund shortages. The Andhra Pradesh Central University set up in 2014, after bifurcation of the State, is in shambles. Between 2014-15 and 2021-22, budget for some of the gems in India’s educational system has been cut. The overall funding for Jamia Milia University witnessed a sharp fall. The overall allocation for Aligarh Muslim University has been reduced sharply by Rs. 306 crores between 2020-21 and 2021-22. It fell from Rs. 1,520 crores in 2020-21 to Rs. 1,215 crores in 2021-22. So far, we have come to know that. The diversity of India’s educational system is with institutions like these and many hundreds of premium educational institutions run by minority communities, including Christian Missionaries, but imparting education to all communities, must be protected. Sir, why is infrastructure so neglected? I urge upon the Government to pay attention and provide adequate funds for betterment. Sir, now, I say a few words about my State, West Bengal, where the Government has introduced multiple schemes to support higher education. The West Bengal Government has launched schemes like Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship for UG, PG and even for Ph.D. courses across all subjects. Our Flagship Scheme, Kanyashree Prakalpa, has currently around 70 lakh beneficiaries. The scheme has been awarded
by the United Nations Public Service Awards and has also been recognized by the UNICEF. I would, now, like to draw the Government’s attention to the issue of vacancies in the Central Universities under the SC, ST and OBC categories. Sir, the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, mandates 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent and 27 per cent quota for SC, ST and OBC students respectively. However, the intake of students under the
reserved categories in the Central Universities is much lower than the mandated norms. I urge upon the Government to look into this also. Sir, I would, again, like to emphasize on a very important point. We have waited for 12 days in this Session for discussion on Price Rise, but the Government told us that the House cannot discuss the Price Rise issue, because… Sir, it is related. It is because the hon. Finance Minister was not available and she will only reply to the debate. But, however, today, we are seeing that the same Government did not think for a moment to allow
the hon. Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology to pilot a Bill on education. According to the data from the Ministry of Education, there are 880 vacancies for the post of Professor across the five backward categories of SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PWD in 43 Central Universities. Similarly, the number of vacancies for Associate Professors and Assistant Professors are 1,624 and 1,793 respectively. But, they have also been reduced. My last point is: There is an urgent need to fill these vacancies to ensure adequate representation across all sections of people. At the same time, the Government needs to ensure that sufficient infrastructure facilities and adequate funds are made available to all the Central Universities. I support this Bill to make Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya a Central University hoping that the hon. Minister would address all other issues raised. Thank you.
