New Delhi: Delhi University’s college on wheels project – Gyanodaya Express – might be discontinued this year with the varsity still exploring funding options for the biannual educational trips.
The project was started in 2012 by former vice chancellor Dinesh Singh, who demitted office last month after completion of his controversial tenure. No such trip has been organised by the university in 2015 so far.
Back in 2012, Singh’s idea had received flak from the varsity’s teachers association who claimed it to be “illegally functioning” as the University Grants Commission (UGC) had not sanctioned any funds for the same.
The issue had also found mention in the ‘White Paper’ released against Singh by Delhi University Teachers’ Association, seeking his removal from the office.
The project was kicked off using the varsity funds, which the present administration is finding difficult to spare.
“Funding of around Rs 2 crore is needed to undertake any such journey. The rule book of the varsity’s annual budget, however, has no mention of allocation of such a funding.
“We are not sure how such a huge amount can be arranged. Hence, there is no clarity on whether the project will continue or not,” a senior varsity official said on condition of anonymity.
For each edition of Gyanodaya Express, the university selected around 1,000 students on basis of project and research ideas proposed by them and sent them for an all-expense paid trip.