self-financed univs.

Only 3 applications to set up self-financed univs in state

Prafulla Marpakwar TNN 

Mumbai: Only three leading educational institutions have submitted applications a month after the state government issued model guidelines for setting up self-financed universities. 
    “The response is poor. In the first year, we were expecting more than a dozen applications. There were many enquiries before the rules were issued. But after we announced the rules, the response has been dismal,’’ a senior bureaucrat told TOI on Monday. 
    A year ago, after both Houses of the state legislature passed a bill, governor K Sankaranarayanan had refused to give his assent as there was no provision of reservation. Prominent politicians had demanded reservation for backward class students in self-financed universities. After the bill was returned by the governor, the higher and technical education department issued model guidelines for setting up self-financed universities on May 29. 
    The bureaucrat said all proposals will be put up before a high-level committee headed by principal secretary (higher and technical education department). If the proposals are approved, a separate bill for each self-financed university will be introduced in the legislature. If the bill is passed by both Houses and the governor gives his assent, a new self-financed university will be set up. 
    It would be mandatory for the self-financed university to set up a Rs 10 crore endowment fund if it is in Mumbai or its suburbs, and Rs 5 crore if outside Mumbai, added the bureaucrat. 
    There was no proposal for reservations, but the model guidelines provide a clear provision for admission and reservation for all courses as per the state government policy. 
    A leading education baron said the state government procedure was lengthy and there appeared to be a lot of red-tape. 
    “The procedure should be simple. In neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, approval of a proposal is time-bound,” he said.

Source:::: The Times of India, 02-07-2013. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&AW=1372761063606