University study centres proving mere showpieces

Aurangabad, Feb 26:

Some study centres in the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) have become mere showpieces. Although the study centre restructuring committee has blamed the university for not achieving its objective, to date no vice-chancellor has closed such study centres.

Various study centres named after revered leaders and great personalities were established in the university for the purpose of conducting research work on their life work and also inspire students. There are 18 study centres that include Gautam Buddha study centre, Mahatma Phule study centre, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj study centre, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj study centre, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar study centre, Mahatma Gandhi study centre, Tarabai Shinde Women's study centre, Shahir Annabhau Sathe study centre, Vasantrao Naik study centre, Shaheed Bhagat Singh study centre, Balasaheb Pawar study centre, Maulana Azad study centre, C V Ramanujan study centre, Research centre for rural problems, Vilasrao Deshmukh study centre, Adya Kavi Mukundaraj study centre, Vamandada Kardak study centre and Gopinath Munde National Institute of Rural Development Research. During this year, programmes were implemented mainly from five to six study centres. Other study centres only remained for celebrating anniversaries and Jayanti.

Funding inadequate

A monthly fellowship of Rs 4,000 is given to the M.Phil students and Rs 6,000 to P.hD students for research work by the centres. A professor on the condition of anonymity said many students enrol themselves just for the fellowship. Hence no significant research has been done at these centres. On the other hand, a grant of Rs 1 lakh is given to each study centre. Since this funding is very inadequate, the centres cannot conduct national or state level seminars said the directors.

Purpose is not met

Rajesh Karpe, chairman of the restructuring committee said that only the Tarabai Shinde study centre gets UGC grants. Grants from universities are meagre. However, the way in which the thoughts and deeds of great leaders should be propagated and disseminated does not seem to be happening.