Date:05/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110560320400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

2 varsities asked to bear Governor’s Europe trip

Tiwari to study education system and research activities

OU, AU asked to bear the costs of the 16-day trip
Decision to put burden on two varsities criticised

HYDERABAD: Two universities that are struggling to expand their academic activities due to shortage of funds will be poorer by Rs. 2.5 crore what with the government asking them to bear the expenditure for the Europe trip of Governor N.D. Tiwari and his team.

The Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the State universities, is going on a 16-day trip to three European nations to study the education system and research activities in European institutions.

V-Cs to accompany

He will be accompanied by four members of his staff and the Vice-Chancellors of Osmania University and Andhra University.

Sources said that the government had asked these two universities to bear all the costs. In fact, a few other Vice-Chancellors and senior officials of the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) were to be a part of the team, but the government struck down the proposal citing financial reasons.

Interestingly, the team is scheduled to visit only three universities – one each in United Kingdom, Germany and France during their two-week stay.

While none is questioning the visit of the Governor as the Chancellor of these universities, the decision to put the financial burden on the universities is being criticised.

“If the government wants to send the Chancellor on a study tour, it can foot the bill from its resources. It is unfair to put the burden on the university that is already short of funds for developmental works,” a senior teacher of Osmania University said.

Poor condition of the hostels, lack of funds for research activities and several financial demands of employees and teachers are already haunting the university.

“Under such conditions how did the University agree to bear the costs? The issue would be raised in the concerned forum of the university,” he said.

The team was scheduled to leave on Tuesday night and return on November 19. Sources said OU Vice Chancellor T. Tirupathi Rao did not get his visa so far and he is likely to join the team in a day or two.