Gondwana University VC lodges complaint against Sapkal

Gondwana University VC lodges complaint against Sapkal

NAGPUR: It can't get worse than this. In a fight between Nagpur University (NU) and Gondwana University (GU) over a petty issue, the academic fraternity and students are suffering a loss.

After NU categorically rejected the gazette notification by the Maharashtra government asking it to hand over its sub-centre land in Gadchiroli to GU, the GU VC has lodged a complaint with chancellor K Sankaranarayanan.

GU VC Vijay Ainchwar has accused Sapkal and his team of not cooperating despite clear directives from the government. He also alleged that NU officials were obstructing development of the newly-established university due to the dispute over UGC's Model College.

The tussle between the universities started after NU's 10 acre land in Gadchiroli, originally given to it for its sub-centre by the state government, was handed over to GU through a December 1, 2011, gazette notification. NU officials didn't want to hand over the prime piece of land because it also houses the Model College allotted to it by UGC. On other hand, GU officials insist that the sub-centre land and all its assets, five postgraduate departments and employees be handed over to GU as per the notification.

After Ainchwar's complaint, the chancellor had asked NU to provide clarification regarding the issue and Sapkal had assured to find a solution to the problem, sources said. However, NU PRO Prashant Mohite refused to comment on the issue, only saying that they were extending full cooperation to GU officials. Ainchwar did not pick up calls for comments.

Since it is not getting the sub-centre land, GU had been denied funds worth Rs5 crore, according to GU officials. Since NU is still operating from the land, GU has been unable to avail grants from the union ministry of tribal development for its projects.

"NU is like a parent university to GU, and we expected full cooperation and assistance from them. However, their reluctance to transfer the land to us has made it impossible for us to take any steps for the university's further development," GU officials told TOI.

Meanwhile, other problems are also stalling GU's expansion. The 340 acres land required by GU is not available in Gadchiroli, and only forest land is available, that will require permissions from union ministry for forest and environment (MoEF), which might take years. GU authorities have also demanded that alternative land be made available to them. They are facing a lot of bureaucratic hurdles, with important files stuck in red-tape in Mantralaya in Mumbai.

GU is supposed to look after 179 colleges from Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts and VC Ainchwar and registrar Vinayak Irpate have already announced plans to introduce semester pattern across all faculties in graduate and postgraduate course from first year itself. This, say sources, would be a tedious and difficult task to accomplish.

(Reporting by Devika Girish)

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Gondwana-University-VC-lodges-complaint-against-Sapkal/articleshow/15037006.cms

Govt sanctions 38 new colleges in Gadchiroli

Govt sanctions 38 new colleges in Gadchiroli

TOI: GADCHIROLI: Despite it being a backward district under the shadow of Naxal activities, Maharashtra government has sanctioned 38 new colleges for Gadchiroli in the present academic year to boost education here.

The increased number of colleges would certainly benefit students of this backward district and prove useful in catering to their academic needs, said Dr Vijay Ainchwar, vice chancellor of Gondwana University, under whose jurisdiction these colleges will function.

Emphasis is being given to quality education in these colleges and there would be no compromise, the VC said, adding that with the government's move, the number of colleges in the university has risen to 215 and all have started functioning from the current academic session.

The one-year-old Gondwana University aims to come up as one of the best in the country and necessary steps have already been taken in that direction, he said. New courses based on natural resources and tribal culture are also being drafted and will be introduced shortly, he mentioned.

The varsity recently conducted an online entrance examination for PhD courses and got a tremendous response from students, he said.