Sat Jan 04 15:24:49 UTC 2025: ## Hampi’s Kannada University Faces Funding Crisis Despite State Grant
**Bengaluru, January 4, 2025** – The Kannada University in Hampi, Karnataka, is facing a severe financial crisis despite receiving a ₹1 crore state grant two months ago. While the grant, part of a larger ₹8 crore allocation to seven universities, was intended as a lifeline, the university remains crippled by delays in government approval of its action plan, submitted two months prior.
The university, which focuses solely on research and does not affiliate with colleges, lacks independent revenue streams. This has led to crippling debt of ₹3.9 crore and hampered research activities. The Vice-Chancellor, D.V. Paramashivamurthy, expressed concern that the lack of approval prevents the university from utilizing the funds, potentially incurring audit objections. He further highlighted the inability to pay contract workers’ salaries for 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic due to insufficient government funding.
The university’s financial woes are further exacerbated by a drastic reduction in annual government grants, from ₹25-50 crore initially to a significantly lower amount currently. This has resulted in a reduction in faculty from 73 to 46, with 20 more expected to retire in the next three years. Nineteen departments currently lack full-time faculty. The Vice-Chancellor appealed for the government to fill vacant positions and provide an annual grant of ₹6-7 crore to ensure the university’s continued operation.
First Piper 