KOCHI: The Sanskrit University's budget for 2007-08 seems to have copied parts of last year's budget. Repetition of proposals and a lack of innovative ideas to shore up the university's performance are the hallmarks of the budget presented on March 17.

The budget for 2006-07 had said that the university would start a consortium of fine arts departments to present performances and programmes abroad. The Fine Arts Departments, including dance, music, theatre, Koodiyattom and painting, would be part of the consortium.

Now, the same proposal figures in the new budget. "The university has very efficient and talented staff and students in our Fine Arts Departments. It is proposed to develop the consortium of all these departments in order to perform programmes in and outside the country," the budget said.

Referring to self-financing programmes, last year's budget said: "The university authorities expect to generate an income of Rs.36.50 lakh by introducing self-financing courses." The latest budget note said: "The university intends to start self-financing course, a consortium of Fine Arts Departments and Distance Education programmes during this year and an amount of Rs.36.50 lakh is expected as revenue from the above."

Last year's budget allocated funds for publishing the complete works of Sree Sankaracharya in Malayalam, Hindi, Sanskrit and English. A proposal included in that budget said that the university would also undertake collection, documentation and publication of indigenous knowledge.

Read this year's budget: "It is also proposed to publish the complete works of Sankaracharya in Malayalam, Hindi and English with introduction and commentary during this year. Collection, documentation, and publication of indigenous knowledge and translation with introduction and commentary and publication of philosophical and literary texts are other projects on this line."

The budget presented last year had said that the university would offer the Bachelor of Architecture course under the self-financing stream. The budget had also proposed a Bachelor's course in Education.

Despite the Government making it clear that no self-financing courses will be sanctioned this year, the university budget for this year has included two proposals under the self-financing stream.

Read this year's proposal: It is proposed to start new courses in B. Arch (with emphasis on traditional architecture - Vastuvidya); BAMS course (with emphasis on Sanskrit texts Ayurveda); B. A. Ed course with approval of Government during 2007-08 under the self-financing scheme.

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