JNU administration rejects students' union allegations of slashing library funds

The Jawaharlal Nehru University administration issued a statement rubbishing the varsity's students' union allegations about a reduction in the library funds.

Last week, the students' union had accused the varsity administration of cutting down library funds from Rs 8 crore to Rs 1.7 crore.

"Reports in the media that the annual budget for the Dr BR Ambedkar (Central) Library of JNU has been reduced from Rs 8 crore to Rs 1.70 crore are completely baseless," the varsity said in a statement.

The university has been allocating to the library every year a amount of Rs 1.70 crore for the books and journals from its grant received annually from the UGC, the JNU said.

"However, in the year 2012, the UGC gave a one-time bulk grant to JNU under the 12th Plan for five years from which an extra amount was allocated for the next five years. Now that the 12th plan has ended the library is running with its regular annual grant," the varsity said.

However, the JNU has already made a request to the UGC to release additional funds to meet the increasing requirements of the library.

The JNUSU accused the financial officer of the vary for hiding that the UGC had released Rs 20 crore.

"Both UGC and JNU knew Planning commission had paved way for Niti Aayog. If the planned grant was ending why wasn't sufficient planning done on part of both UGC and administration regarding funds?

"JNU VC Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar is a member of UGC, so if UGC has cut down the funding why didn't he dissent then?" the JNUSU said in a statement.