The Hindu : Exam fee hike proposed in Kerala varsity budget

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Exam fee hike proposed in Kerala varsity budget

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MARCH 22. The budget of the University of Kerala for the year 2003- 2004 proposes hikes in various fees, a new medical insurance scheme for employees and the winding up of the Lexicon department among other things.

The Rs. 17,01,97,500 deficit budget was presented at the meeting of the Senate on Friday by the convener of the University's Finance Committee, Madhu S. Nair.

In his budget speech, Mr. Nair said the delay in declaring results can be solved only through centralised valuation (CV) camps. It is proposed to introduce a CV camp fee and the University expects to generate additional funds to the tune of Rs. 1.1 crores as a result of this.

It is proposed to introduce a special fee for effecting speedy revaluation of examination papers. The university expects an additional revenue of Rs. 75,00,000 on this count. The University's hostel fee is also proposed to be hiked as maintenance work has now been done there. A sum of Rs. 15 lakhs can be realised by the University as a result of this hike, he said.

Describing the Lexicon Department as a `white elephant', the budget speech calls for the closure of this department and redeployment of the staff in other posts. The Department incurs an annual expenditure of Rs. 27 lakhs and it has been three years since the scheduled release of the Lexicon's eighth volume. The work being done at the Lexicon is already being done at the State Government level, Mr. Nair pointed out. The budget speech proposes a hike in the bus fee for University bus services out of Kariavattom. At present the University incurs an annual expense of Rs. 8 lakhs on the bus services, he said.

In order to generate resources from the 393 acres under the possession of the University, the budget calls for implementation of various projects including the construction of a shopping complex at the Palayam campus.

A health insurance scheme for employees has been proposed in place of the existing medical reimbursement facility. The Government will be requested to provide a special grant to clear arrears in PF loans and payments for the employees.

It has been proposed to grant academic status to the Department of Physical Education and to hike the rent of the University stadium in view of the fact that both the State and the Centre have granted funds to lay a synthetic track in the Stadium. A revised rent can fetch the University Rs. 5 lakhs annually.

The budget moots the idea of using the University website to set up an alumni body to bring about a `cyber family' for the University. Such a `family' can also help generate resources for the University. A shift system will be introduced in the University press to make its functioning more efficient, Mr. Nair said.

In order to further the scope of functioning of the University College of Engineering, the budget proposes to set aside 50 per cent of seats there for foreign students.

There is also a proposal in the budget to introduce the rotation system for the post of head of department in the University.

Member of the Syndicate, K. Sasikumar, informed the Senate that the University will decide on granting a D.Litt to architect Laurie Baker after the decision of the academic body concerned. The Senate passed a resolution congratulating member, Rajan Verghese, on his appointment as the director of the Bhasha Institute.

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