The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : BRAOU denied scholarship allocations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 14, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

BRAOU denied scholarship allocations

K. Vijayabhasker Reddy

The varsity has one of the highest enrolment of SC/ST students in its undergraduate programmes
No success even though the varsity is complying with every rule of the Social Welfare Department

HYDERABAD: Dr. Ambedkar Open University, the institution that has one of the highest enrolment of SC/ST students in its undergraduate programmes in the country, is denied of scholarship allocations from the State Social Welfare Department.

The institution that is supporting the higher education of the underprovided sections with its fee waivers, free material and special study centres is treated in a condescending manner by the Social Welfare Department over the years.

As a result the university lost about Rs. 26 crore since 1993, almost a quarter of its annual budget every year. Since its inception in 1982, the university was qualified for post-metric scholarships from State and Central government. The university implemented ‘fee reimbursement’ method and repaid the fees paid by SC/ST and PHC students.

In 1992, former Vice-Chancellor Basheeruddin took a decision not to collect fee from the students of these categories to improve their enrolment.

“Prof. Basheeruddin’s affirmative decision worked positive and we have 34 p.c. of SC/ ST students on our rolls while regular universities are not even reaching 10 p.c. mark,” said university registrar B. Sunder Rao.

Various doubts prevailing among the officials of the Social Welfare Department about the effectiveness of distance education is making the process inert.

“They suspect the efficiency of our degrees, they complain that our students are employed and impose stringent rules,” said Mr. Rao. There was no result although the university is complying with every rule by the department. “Our scholarship application forms disappeared and we got only two to three crores in last 15 years. Apathy of the Social Welfare Department is severely hampering the institutions’ financial health. We are the only institution implementing full fee waiver for the weaker sections among the 14 open universities in the country,” said Vice-Chancellor O.R. Reddy.

He questioned the rationale of the department’s approach towards the university.

“Our students are at lowest strata even among the underprivileged. They couldn’t afford to regular education. Still they are trying to obtain the qualifications,” said Prof. Reddy.

Ghanta Chakrapani, former Registrar of the university and who did a project on the change brought about by the university in the lives of the students, challenged the notions of the Social Welfare officials.

“Our students are in big positions in academics and corporate companies alike,” he stated.

The university registrar made a special mention about the success of their recent talks with the Commissioner of Social Welfare Department K. Vidya Sagar.

According to him, the Commissioner not only promised to release the scholarship amount but also to refund the fee waivers provided by the university.

However, the university administration is not that jubilant about the development and only is looking forward for a hassle-free release of the scholarships this academic year.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh