According to official documents, the University of Delhi has decided to increase the annual university development fees charged to students in view of the UGC’s reduction in capital allocations. Some teachers said that this move will lead to a sharp increase in student fees. The University Development Fee (UDF) is a component of the annual fee charged to students. The university established a university development fund committee to consider allocating funds for various activities, such as constructing new buildings and purchasing laboratory equipment. The team stated: “Currently, each student of the university only receives 600 rupees per year as UDF donations, which will be implemented from the 2012-13 academic year.” “Considering the funding needs and the government’s self-sufficiency requirements and reducing UGC (University The UDF amount should be revised to 900 rupees per student per year for the capital allocation of the Appropriation Committee, the creation of ICT (information and communication), and the activation of infrastructure,” it said. The committee’s recommendation was accepted at the school team’s executive committee meeting held on December 17, despite the opposition of a few members. The committee composed of former vice president PC Joshi and Registrar Vikas Gupta stated that in the past three to four years, the UGC has not issued enough funds to universities for laboratory equipment and other equipment, and has allocated them in the current fiscal year 1.25 crore.
The team pointed out: “Because of such a small number, the university cannot even purchase a laboratory equipment for each department. Each department is regularly seeking funds to replace/purchase laboratory equipment for academic and other research activities.”
“After exhausting all available resources, the committee has undergone extensive deliberation and approved an allocation of 520 million rupees for the purchase/replacement of laboratory equipment in different departments. The vice-principal may be required to establish a fund allocation committee,” it said.
Seema Das, a member of the executive committee, said: “Earlier, this development fund raised by students was treated as an emergency fund by the university. Just like every family, some of the money has never been moved and is retained during difficult times. This UDF has always been like this.” Das said that now, “forcing” universities to use UDF for infrastructure and development will make life difficult for the predetermined castes, predetermined tribes, other backward classes, and some students with weaker economies.
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