Bus bhai bus !
Even as buses worth lakhs bought to promote computer literacy in rural areas lie unused, Gujarat University and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University plan to buy more vehicles
Yogesh Avasthi
AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY TO GET 5 MORE BUSES
Ambedkar University bought its first bus, complete with computers and broadband connection, in 2010. But it was not put to use, say sources. Last year, it bought three more buses out of the Rs 50-lakh grant received from Rajya Sabha MP Arun Jaitley. These were inaugurated in Gandhinagar by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Now, they remain parked outside the varsity office at R C Technical College.
“Every week, a staff member drives the four buses around the city so that the batteries do not drain out,” claimed an official requesting anonymity.
Despite this, the varsity will buy five more buses.
“Nearly 5,000 people have benefited from the bus we bought in 2010. We have not been able to use it for some time because we are upgrading it. Also, the new session for the computer course will begin next month. By then all the buses will be ready. We will also appoint drivers and teachers,” said Manoj Soni, Vice Chancellor of Ambedkar University.
“We will have five more buses in some time. These will also be used to train people in courses like catering and home science. In the new buses, we can accommodate 16 students at a time,” added Soni.
Refuting this, reliable sources said, “The varsity never appointed teachers or drivers for the ‘mobile’ class, then how did so many people benefit from the bus? Now, they will waste more money in upgrading something that is lying useless on campus.”
GU TO GET TWO MORE BUSES
GU, too, bought a bus from the Rs 25-lakh grant given by Lok Sabha MP Kirit Solanki last year. It was inaugurated by the governor six months ago. Since then, it is lying behind the bungalow where Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi resides. Now, GU will be buying two more buses for the computer-on-wheels project out of an additional Rs 50-lakh grant from Solanki.
Not a single student has entered the bus till date, said sources. It is usually displayed at the venue of state government’s programmes to boast about novel education practices in the state.
“We haven’t been able to hire someone to drive the heavy vehicle. That is why the delay in starting the project,” said Trivedi. “We have already bought a bus for Rs 25 lakh and have been granted Rs 50 lakh more. Now, we will be buying two more buses for the computer literacy programme,” he added.
Misuse of grants
The authorities are wasting public money, said GU Syndicate member Manish Doshi. “Ambedkar university does not provide quality education when it comes to distance learning courses. When they cannot maintain a study centre, give students study material and teach pupils who attend classes properly, wasting money on such buses makes no sense. When they cannot make use of the four buses bought in the first phase successfully, they should not launch the second phase.”
About GU, he said, “Announcements are made with great fanfare at Gujarat University but no one checks if students are being offered the best of education. They cannot teach students attending the varsity properly, yet they want to visit rural areas to teach kids! Both varsities have not hired teachers nor drawn up the syllabus yet. How exactly do they plan to implement these projects?”
“This is misuse of grants. This money belongs to the public. If utilised properly, these lakhs of rupees could have been used to give children a proper education,” said Doshi, adding: “Authorities at both universities do not want to appoint teachers and provide basic facilities to students. They are more interested in buying stuff. It should be ensured that there is no malpractice behind such exercises.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, May 04, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2012050420120504220459593eab05dbf/Bus-bhai-bus.html
Not long ago, two universities announced separate projects to promote computer literacy among students in far-flung areas of the state. For this purpose, they even purchased buses and installed computers. But the projects never took off. What questions the intentions of these varsities as also their wisdom is the fact that while these buses lie unutilised, the authorities are all set to purchase more buses for the same projects.
Gujarat University and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University cited lack of drivers and teachers as the reasons for delaying the projects they had launched separately last year. Now, regardless of the manpower crisis, both universities will be using grants offered by members of Parliament to buy more buses.
AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY TO GET 5 MORE BUSES
Ambedkar University bought its first bus, complete with computers and broadband connection, in 2010. But it was not put to use, say sources. Last year, it bought three more buses out of the Rs 50-lakh grant received from Rajya Sabha MP Arun Jaitley. These were inaugurated in Gandhinagar by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Now, they remain parked outside the varsity office at R C Technical College.
“Every week, a staff member drives the four buses around the city so that the batteries do not drain out,” claimed an official requesting anonymity.
Despite this, the varsity will buy five more buses.
“Nearly 5,000 people have benefited from the bus we bought in 2010. We have not been able to use it for some time because we are upgrading it. Also, the new session for the computer course will begin next month. By then all the buses will be ready. We will also appoint drivers and teachers,” said Manoj Soni, Vice Chancellor of Ambedkar University.
“We will have five more buses in some time. These will also be used to train people in courses like catering and home science. In the new buses, we can accommodate 16 students at a time,” added Soni.
Refuting this, reliable sources said, “The varsity never appointed teachers or drivers for the ‘mobile’ class, then how did so many people benefit from the bus? Now, they will waste more money in upgrading something that is lying useless on campus.”
GU TO GET TWO MORE BUSES
GU, too, bought a bus from the Rs 25-lakh grant given by Lok Sabha MP Kirit Solanki last year. It was inaugurated by the governor six months ago. Since then, it is lying behind the bungalow where Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi resides. Now, GU will be buying two more buses for the computer-on-wheels project out of an additional Rs 50-lakh grant from Solanki.
Not a single student has entered the bus till date, said sources. It is usually displayed at the venue of state government’s programmes to boast about novel education practices in the state.
“We haven’t been able to hire someone to drive the heavy vehicle. That is why the delay in starting the project,” said Trivedi. “We have already bought a bus for Rs 25 lakh and have been granted Rs 50 lakh more. Now, we will be buying two more buses for the computer literacy programme,” he added.
Misuse of grants
The authorities are wasting public money, said GU Syndicate member Manish Doshi. “Ambedkar university does not provide quality education when it comes to distance learning courses. When they cannot maintain a study centre, give students study material and teach pupils who attend classes properly, wasting money on such buses makes no sense. When they cannot make use of the four buses bought in the first phase successfully, they should not launch the second phase.”
About GU, he said, “Announcements are made with great fanfare at Gujarat University but no one checks if students are being offered the best of education. They cannot teach students attending the varsity properly, yet they want to visit rural areas to teach kids! Both varsities have not hired teachers nor drawn up the syllabus yet. How exactly do they plan to implement these projects?”
“This is misuse of grants. This money belongs to the public. If utilised properly, these lakhs of rupees could have been used to give children a proper education,” said Doshi, adding: “Authorities at both universities do not want to appoint teachers and provide basic facilities to students. They are more interested in buying stuff. It should be ensured that there is no malpractice behind such exercises.”
