Mita Mukherjee

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities, colleges and technical institutions to put up banners and hoardings thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching a free vaccination drive for those 18 years of age and above.

The UGC issued a letter, signed by Rajnish Jain, UGC secretary and CVO to the institutions through emails and WhatsApp messages on Sunday where the commission attached the approved designs of the posters carrying the message thanking the Prime Minister.

The poster showing a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reads: “VACCINES FOR ALL, FREE FOR ALL”. WORLD’S LARGEST FREE VACCINATION CAMPAIGN. Thank You PM Modi”.

The poster also mentions that free vaccines were so far available for people above 45 years of age. From June 21 free vaccines are available for everyone above 18 years of age in government centres.

Officials of at least five institutions said they received the letter on Sunday. Some others said they have not received any such letter till Tuesday afternoon.

People from several quarters including academicians, student bodies and politicians came down heavily against the government for asking the institutions to start the promotion at this stage.  

Neeraj Kundan, the national president of the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India, said it was “hilarious” that the UGC has asked the institutions to thank the Prime Minister when students aren’t even vaccinated. 

“It is hilarious that the institutions are being asked to thank the Prime Minister when students haven’t been vaccinated yet. The government has not announced a single fee waiver for students. There is not a word on waiving student loans. Hundreds of students lost an academic year. They have missed the opportunity to pursue higher studies in foreign universities since they were not vaccinated on time. How can the government think about promotion after all this. This is a joke,” Kundan told EducationWorld.

Swaraj India President and former UGC member Yogendra Yadav said on Twitter, “Disgraceful. As a former member of the UGC, I am mortified. Things were rotten at the UGC even then (2010-12), but such servility was unimaginable. Everyday, we discover a new low.”

Abha Dev Habib of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) said the government funded institutions were being used to run propaganda for the Prime Minister.

In a Facebook post, she said, “Free vaccination is a right, funded by the taxpayers’ money…. delay in this essential medicine is a blame which the Government cannot escape. Second wave destroyed much. Like all sectors, Education sector suffered immense loss. DUTA has written to the UGC demanding real relief in terms of compensation, death gratuity and scholarship of students… nothing on that.  We have written for the development of medical facilities to the MoH… nothing on that.”

Responding to the news, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the UGC for asking the institutions to put up posters thanking the Prime Minister.

She wrote on twitter: “UGC has asked all government funded universities and college to put up posters thanking PM for free vaccines. Firstly the vaccines are being brought from taxpayers money. Secondly, wish UGC worked with same alacrity for students & asked about lack of jobs amongst the youth.”

UGC asked all government funded universities and college to put up posters thanking PM for free vaccines.
Firstly, the vaccines are being bought from taxpayers money. Secondly, wish UGC worked with same alacrity for students&asked about lack of jobs amongst the youth.

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) June 22, 2021

 

In the letter issued to the institutions, the UGC wrote: “The Government of India is starting free vaccination for 18 years and above age group from tomorrow, i.e. 21st June, 2021. In this regard Universities and Colleges are requested to kindly display these hoardings/banners in their institutions. The approved design (creatives) of hoardings/banners in Hindi and English, as provided by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, are attached for your ready reference. Kindly note, these creatives are embargoed for social media till 7 am tomorrow, i.e. 21st June, 2021.”