Adequate Funding a must for Central Universities: Vincent Benny

Mr. Vincent Benny, President of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) Students Union was recently invited by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), New Delhi to witness the Parliament session on Central Universities Act. Vincent was among the 26 students who represented the various Central Universities from all over India. This is the first time students from Central Universities have been invited to the Parliament for a session.

Talking to UoH Herald Vincent said that in the meeting with Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, he raised the issue of adequate funding for Central Universities especially with reference to UoH. He brought to the notice of the hon’ble Minister that if adequate funds do not come in time then no developmental activities can take place on the campus which will not allow the University to progress on lines of Institutions of International standards.

Vincent also told the officials that MHRD and UGC must sufficiently fund the Central Universities which have many students from the marginalized sections and rural areas. These students cannot afford to study at other private institutions and colleges as they charge very heavy fees, he added.

He also pointed out that all Central Universities must be given subsidies to the major commodities used in the hostels like Rice, Dal, Wheat, Sugar, Oil and cooking gas. This would help the students in getting access to quality food at very affordable prices, added Vincent.

The UGC must increase the number of fellowships under RGNF, MANF and JRF considering the increase in number of students from the respective communities, said Vincent. With regard to UGC non-NET fellowships, he said that fellowships should be hiked on par with the percentage of hike that has been approved recently.

Vincent also requested the UGC to initiate fellowships for undergraduate students to encourage the students from marginalized section and rural background. He requested MHRD to establish proper coordination between UGC, AICTE to resolve the issue of recognition of the M.Tech courses in UoH and its adequate funding.

Finally Vincent also made a special mention of the need to recognize the Centre for Health Psychology at UoH as a separate School in view of the Psychological problems being faced by the youth in society today. He requested for a 24/7 professional counseling centre attached to this school.