Jadavpur University will write to the state higher education department seeking Rs 50 lakh as “convocation-related expenses” because the university is facing a crippling funds crunch.
The JU executive council, which met on Monday, accepted a proposal from some members for an appeal to the government for funds, said an official at the university.
The amount is needed, the official said, for the repair, painting and beautification of the open-air theatre on the campus where the convocation is held, printing of the annual reports that are read out at the convocation, providing food to the degree recipients, bringing the chief guest to the campus and other purposes related to the annual event, the official said.
An official in the JU finance office said there are as many as 25 heads under which the financial aid has been sought.
“We are encountering financial constraints. So, registrar Snehamanju Basu, as resolved by the executive council, has been advised to write to the state government for funds for the convocation. We have decided to seek Rs 50 lakh from the state government,” officiating vice-chancellor Buddhadeb Sau said.
Manojit Mandal, a member of the executive council, said the convocation budget usually varies between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 70 lakh. “This year, the budget has been scaled down,” said Mandal.
A JU official said the university in previous years would bear the convocation expenses from the grant provided by the state government. But the university is currently encountering a funds crunch following a decline in support from the state and the central governments.
Sau said JU had a budget deficit of Rs 8 crore in the last fiscal.
“Since funds are not coming, I proposed that the state government be requested to provide funds for the convocation,” executive council member Gautam Maity said after the meeting.