Centre, TS-AP still spar over use of RUSA funds

​Hyderabad: The Union Ministry for Human Resources Development (UMHRD) highlighted that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States have not submitted the report on the progress and utilisation certificates for the funds released under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

According to sources, differences between the UMHRD and the State governments continue to persist in regard to the funds approved and released to both the Telugu States as per the sixth Project Approval Board (PAB). In regard to Telangana, the HRD Ministry pointed out that the physical progress of model degree colleges and progress under various components are yet to be submitted along with concrete details with photographic pieces of evidence. 

That apart, utilisation certificates for the financial progress are also pending. In addition to this, the State Higher Education Department is yet to upload photographs on the Bhuvan app for checking and moderating the authenticity and accuracy of the remaining 27 institutions out of about 32 funded under the RUSA at the State level. 

Further, the UMHRD claims that the accreditation document of one university out of two approved for infrastructure grants are not yet submitted. In regard to AP, the Ministry stressed the State to expedite the utilisation of the funds received and submit the UCs for the same. It pointed out that the UCs for about Rs 14 crore towards model degree colleges is yet to be submitted. 

However, Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the State Higher Education Department said that details regarding these issues have already been sent. However, the State is also reportedly asked by the Union Ministry to submit the revised Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) along with the supporting documents for the upgradation of two model degree colleges and a cluster university approved in the ninth PAB to fund the proposals. As it was in the case of TS, the AP was also told to submit the accreditation documents for one university out of five already approved for infrastructure grants in the sixth PAB meetings.

In addition, AP was also asked to upload, change or modify the photos and their attributes on the Bhuvan app, as until now, photos of only one out of sixty RUSA funded institutions have been accepted. The Ministry also further asked AP to submit a detailed physical and financial progress report on each of the model degree colleges sanctioned along with component wise approvals and funds released under the scheme.

Top-rated Osmania University, Hyderabad University, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati have got approval to the tune of about Rs 100 crore under the RUSA. And, partly funds have also been released.

“The latest raider of linking of funds to the filling of vacant teaching posts in the universities remains a hitch for the universities. Because the recruitment process in Telangana has come to a grinding halt following a direction of the UGC. In Andhra Pradesh, the results of the recruitment examinations already held were kept under wraps following the UGC directions to not announce the results. Thus, linking the shortage of faculty to the release of RUSA funds need to be reconsidered,” a senior official from the Telangana State Higher Education Department said.