Tue Dec 03 19:02:56 UTC 2024: **Tamil Nadu Forms Committee to Review University Block Grants Amidst Funding Concerns**

Chennai, December 4, 2024 – The Tamil Nadu government has established a seven-member committee to reassess block grants allocated to state universities. This move follows concerns raised by university administrators regarding insufficient funding and the government’s apparent reluctance to fully cover staff salaries and pensions.

The committee, chaired by the Finance Department’s Secretary (Expenditure), will include representatives from the technical education, higher education, and collegiate education departments, as well as the state’s audit department and higher education council. A clause in the committee’s terms of reference stating the government’s non-obligation to fund salaries and pensions has sparked controversy.

This decision comes weeks after UGC chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar emphasized the state’s responsibility for adequately funding its universities. Former university administrators have criticized the government for failing to meet its financial obligations, citing instances where universities had to divert funds intended for other purposes to cover staff salaries, leaving pensioners unpaid. The University of Madras, for example, has reportedly received a block grant of ₹7.56 crore but faces challenges in meeting its financial commitments. Staff who retired after 2017 are still awaiting their retirement benefits.

Experts suggest a manpower assessment is needed to streamline university administration and address redundancies. Calls for greater transparency and inclusion of university administrators in the review process have also been made. The committee is expected to propose a framework for ensuring the long-term financial stability of Tamil Nadu’s universities.

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