Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan: Higher education development in the doldrums 

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Works of the Centrally-funded RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) have got stuck in the doldrums in such a way in Assam that the non-submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) for crores of rupees has become a hindrance for the release of the subsequent installments.

RUSA run under the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry is a mission under the 90:10 funding pattern between the Centre and the State government for the development of institutions of higher education. In Assam two schemes – RUSA 1.0 started in 2014-15 and RSUA 2.0 started in 2018-19 – are underway. However, the Mission has got stuck in a quagmire in the State; it can neither give the finishing touches to RUSA 1.0 nor can it give impetus to RUSA 2.0.

According to RUSA sources, Rs 456.93 crore was approved against nine components under RUSA 1.0 till December 2019. While RUSA, Assam has received Rs 366.90 crore of the amount, the heads of institutions have received Rs 294.86 crore of it. The UCs of Rs 80 crore has not been submitted by the institutions till December 2019, thereby creating a hindrance in the release of the subsequent installments under RUSA 1.0.

The situation of RUSA 2.0 is no better either. It is yet to pick up the pace. According to RUSA sources, Rs 421 crore was approved till June 2019, and Rs 257 crore of the amount has been released for around 120 higher institutions, including two universities. However, RUSA 2.0 has been a victim of some changes brought under the Mission like giving the responsibility of infrastructure development works to government agencies like the PWD, the HOUSEFED (Housing Federation) and the ASHB (Assam State Housing Board). While HOUSEFED has been able to start the renovation and infrastructure development works of just six of the 39 higher educational institutions given to it, ASHB has been able to start such works of only five of the 32 institutions given to it.

The situation has come to such a pass that RUSA had to warn both HOUSEFED and ASHB and ask them to complete 40 percent of works given to them by March 31, 2020 — when it will have to submit UCs to the Centre. RUSA has even taken away the works of Arya Vidyapith College in Guwahati and another college in Sivasagar from ASHB.

When asked about the slow progress of works, both HOUSEFED and ASHB blame it on the late signing of the MoUs (Memorandum of Understandings) and tendering hiccups.

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