MU approves Rs 394.90-cr budget with stress on infra

Admist high drama that lasted almost 11 hours, Mumbai University (MU) approved Friday a Rs 394.90-crore budget for academic year 2012-13.

The second day of the senate meeting began with a debate on most colleges not celebrating Marathi Diwas, following which cut motions and suggestions were taken up.

For the first time, MU decided to provide financial assistance — Rs 25 lakh — to colleges for international seminars and conferences. It also decided to provide self-defence training to girl students in view of the increase in number of cases of attack on women and set aside Rs 5 lakh for the purpose.

For the first time, it allocated Rs 2 lakh for awards to university teachers for research work.

Another Rs 2 lakh has been proposed for awards to non-teaching staff of colleges and Rs 1 lakh for awards to best male and female students.

The number of colleges affiliated to MU increased from 369 in 2003-04 to 691 in 2012-13, a growth of 87.26 per cent, while the number of recognised institutions increased to 107 from 88 last year.

Student population also increased, from 3,83,224 in 2003-04 to 6,69,139 in 2011-12, a growth of 74.61 per cent in a decade.

Budget 2012-13 proposes a number of infrastructe projects such as construction of an examination house, synthetic track for athletes, hostels, beautification of university buildings and construction of an international convention centre. "However, the main target is academics. Taking this into account, huge sums have been allocated for new initiatives such as community colleges," a university official said.

The budget proposes development of Vidyanagari campus and sub-centres in Thane, Kalyan and Ratnagiri.

Around Rs 12.12 crore has been set aside as development, depreciation, contingency, staff housing, sinking, vice-chancellor and pension funds.

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