Karnataka’s higher education minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan announced that 430 government first grade colleges, 91 polytechnics and 14 engineering colleges will be allowed to use fees collected from students for educational development purposes. 

 

“The motive behind passing the order is giving colleges more financial independence. This will be implemented from the current academic year itself,” he said in a statement.

 

For the same, a committee chaired by the college principal with members including professors, two final year students, IQAC representatives will be formed to overlook the utilisation of funds. 

 

The fee collected from students could be used towards building construction and repairs, purchase of books and gadgets for the library, laboratory equipment, internet connectivity devices, CC TV camera purchase, office spending and organization of cultural events. 

 

Such colleges who have been allowed to utilise funds will be managed to publish the details pertaining expenditure on thei website. There will be no room for spending unaccounted offline transactions, the minister said. 

 

The move, however drew flak with some saying this will allow an unreasonable hike in fee. 

 

Ajay Kamath, State secretary, AIDSO said, “It is shocking that, in the name of Financial autonomy, the state government has decided to make government, engineering and politechnic colleges self financing institutions. Higher Education Minister has said they must depend on students for improving the condition of college! Thereby, the government is set to shrug away from its responsibility of funding educational institutions.

 

Instead of owning up responsibility of improving colleges, if college fees is mandated for funds then fees will increase and poor students will be kept away from higher technical education,” he said.