In the upcoming Budget, a provision of about Rs 400 crore has been made by the Delhi government for these colleges for the financial year 2024-25, as per an official notification.
The Delhi government issued approximately Rs 100 crore on Sunday for 12 institutions that it sponsors and is affiliated with Delhi University (DU), as part of the money for the second quarter approved by Education Minister Atishi.
According to an official statement, the Delhi government has included a provision of around Rs 400 crore for these colleges in the next Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Last April, the government provided Rs 100 crore in the first quarter for the 12 colleges.
The announcement came after DU Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh wrote to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stating that the colleges would remain at the university and that the state should continue to pay them.
Citing reports from the Directorate of Audit, Atishi previously told The Indian Express that the special audit conducted in 2020 on six of the 12 colleges “unequivocally highlighted numerous instances of grave irregularities and procedural lapses of the ‘highest levels’ in expenditure exceeding hundreds of crores.” “Let alone the approval, there should be an investigation into these universities. The Delhi government has taken severe action against the administrations of these colleges for creating unlawful positions, including reclaiming pay of illegally recruited staff members since 2015,” Atishi stated.
“For several years, these 12 colleges have received an annual grant in aid of more than Rs 300 crore from the Government of the NCT of Delhi.” “They must be held accountable for any misuse of funds,” she continued.
According to the statement issued on Sunday, Atishi noted, “In addition to schools, the Kejriwal government prioritized higher education, establishing three new universities and expanding existing ones. The 12 Delhi University colleges, which are wholly supported by the Delhi government, play a major role in higher education in Delhi.
“Many issues of financial mismanagement have come to the fore in these colleges in the last few years, but the Kejriwal government has decided that the teachers and students of those colleges should not suffer due to the mistakes of the management and administration.
Keeping in mind the welfare of teachers, their medical benefits, pension benefits which were stuck due to financial mismanagement, Delhi Government is releasing a fund of Rs 100 crore in the second quarter for these 12 colleges of Delhi University,” she added.
