OBC quotas: IITs get money, universities a raw deal

While the seven IITs have been granted Rs 988 crore to increase the number of seats by 54 per cent to implement the 27 per cent quotas for OBCs, the 18 central universities have been given a raw deal in the Budget.

With just Rs 576 crore in hand, these universities are expected to increase the number of seats this year by 5,754.

"This is much less than what we had asked for," said Professor S Thorat, chairman, University Grants Commission.

With this, the implementation of the OBC quotas is going to be a tough challenge for universities like the Allahabad University and Delhi University, which are going for an increase of 1,134 and 3,124 seats, respectively, in the coming academic session. With colleges affiliated to them also going for additional seats, the universities are in a fix.

The Delhi University had earlier expressed its inability to add the proposed number of seats. While it has sought information on the money required from its affiliate colleges, the university authorities hope that they will be able to add at least a fraction of the proposed 3,124 seats this year.

The Allahabad University is even worse off. "Even without this 54 per cent expansion, the university is massively short of facilities. The teacher-student ratio is a dismal 1:200 in some areas, which is a matter of concern," said Professor Rajen Harshe, Vice-Chancellor, Allahabad University.

While some other Central universities have expressed their willingness to add more seats, the Ministry of Human Resource Development's outcome document shows that their proposals were not accepted in toto.

For example, the University of Hyderabad proposed to increase the number of seats by 289, but the ministry gave nod for just extra 63 seats.

The university, however, seems to be well on track. It has chalked out a step-by-step expansion of IT infrastructure, library, labs and hostels.

"We had asked for Rs 140 crore from the government. We hope that with this allocation, the university will be able to achieve 54 per cent expansion," said Syed Hasnain, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad.