A senior official announced on Wednesday that the varsity has decided to hike its development fee by Rs.300 from the academic year 2022-23. Read ahead to find out more.
After a long run of 13 years, the University of Delhi (DU), on Wednesday, has notified about an increment in the development fee that is charged to students. According to a senior official, the university has increased the fee from Rs. 300 to Rs. 900 from the academic year of 2022-23. The annual fee that is charged to the students constitutes the University Development Fee (UDF).
This development comes not long after the announcement that the students will have to pay for the use of laboratory equipment and facilities. In a statement given by the DU Registrar, Vikas Gupta announced the decision to hike the UDF. According to him, the decision was taken due to the ‘reduction in the capital’ that is given by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Further, DU had constituted a university development fund committee to look into the allocation of the funds for the multitude of activities running across the university, like the construction of new buildings or the acquisition of laboratory equipment.
Given the recommendations provided by the committee, the meeting of the Executive Council of the university, held on 17 December 2021, accepted their proposal of hiking UDF even though a few members have expressed their dissent. An 11-member committee made this recommendation that the varsity has appointed. The committee comprised the then Pro-Vice-Chancellor P.C. Joshi and Registrar Vikas Gupta. According to them, the step has been taken because the UGC is not releasing sufficient funds to the university.
“UGC was not releasing sufficient capital grants to the university for laboratory and other equipment for the last three to four years and had allocated Rs 1.25 crore in the financial year 2021-22.”
-P.C. Joshi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, & Vikas Gupta, Registrar
Furthermore, a few teachers have termed the step as “unfortunate”. According to them, the step to hike fees is quite unfortunate and shows that the UGC is not releasing funds that are necessary for the maintenance of the varsity.
Unfortunately, fees are being increased, and students are being charged for chemicals and facilities to do research. The university cannot progress if the costs of maintenance, apparatus and facilities are shifted onto the students.”
–Abha Dev Habib, former Executive Council Member
In a statement by the Academic Council Member, Alok Pandey expressed that there is no need for an increment in the annual development fees.
In the centenary year, when the university is carrying out various activities, it should not raise the fees as it will add to the pressure on students.”
-Alok Pandey, Member, Academic Council
Read Also: DU to Charge Research Students for Using Science Lab Equipment
DU Decides to Hike Development Fund Charges for Students
Featured Image Credits: DU Beat Archives
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