Massive Fund Cut in JMI and AMU, JNU Fund Stagnates Terribly!
Why the Modi Govt is Hell Bent to Destroy Public Universities?
In a shocking development, funds to two leading central universities of the country – Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) were drastically reduced (The Wire, 19th July, 2022). A reply by the Ministry of Education in the Lok Sabha exposed this massive fund cut.
In the case of Jamia Millia Islamia, there is a sharp fall of funding of nearly Rs 68.73 crore from Rs 479.83 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 411.10 crore in 2021-22. Similar is the case of Aligarh Muslim University. There is a significant decline of fund of nearly Rs 306 crore from Rs 1,520.10 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 1,214.63 crore in 2021-22. The same reply demonstrates that in the case of JNU, the funding terribly stagnates. For JNU, the funds allocated increased very marginally from 2014-15 when they stood at Rs 336.91 crore. In the seven years leading to 2021-22, the funding increased by only Rs 70 crore to reach Rs 407.47 crores.
We all know that the BJP Government has introduced the New Education Policy (NEP), to exclude and close the gates of education for the vast majority of India’s poor and deprived students; weaken social justice and reservations; open the floodgates for privatized, commercialized education. NEP provides so – called “autonomy” to universities to start self – financing courses, to generate its’ own fund to hire faculty members from foreign institutions. From where the money is going to come? Of course, from the pockets of students. Allahabad University has already hiked the fee for courses and hostels for the session 2022 – 23 almost 4 times and JNU Vice Chancellor has announced to make the university “self – reliant” through fee hike.
NEP is also a clear call for private enterprises to expand their “business” in higher education. The policy promises loosening of regulations for opening new institutions of higher education. We all remember how Nita and Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Institute was given ‘Institute of Eminence’ status even before it opened! While Indian Universities that are accessible to thousands of students like JNU, JMI, AMU witness massive fund cuts – the NEP invites foreign universities to open campus in India. Who are going to study in Jio/ foreign universities paying lakhs per semester?
This fund cut does not come to us as a surprise given the history of this regime with the student community and the continuous attack we have been facing in terms of structural destruction of public education as well as political contestations. As a matter of fact, in a scenario where the Indian political stage looks rather devoid of a strong, vocal opposition, the students have come out as a consistent voice of resistance, asserting their identity as opposed to that being imposed by the ruling party ideology and coming out on the streets defending what they believe in. We remember the CAA-NRC-NPR protests assumed a central stage in the national debate with students of Jamia, DU, JNU, AMU and others coming out on the roads time and again braving police lathis and brutal, lethal attacks by the saffron brigade to defend the constitution and reject the divisive politics. That’s why the ruling regime wants to destroy public funded education and the voices of resistance from campuses across the country. And we must resist this!
Say No to Fund Cut in Public Universities!
Resist Fee Hike in Our Campuses!
