Employees work inside Magadh University Press. Picture by Suman

Gaya, June 28: Magadh University (MU) spends lakhs every year to print degrees, marksheets, examination forms and other important documents despite having its own printing press. Reason: lack of facilities.

The university has been providing computerised mark-sheets and degrees to students since 2000. Eleven years on, its press is not completely computerised. Nor are there updated printing machines.

Only two computers and a plate-making machine are available at the press. The university did not have any offset machine until recently. It still does not have a multi-colour offset printing machine. Only small items like registers, note sheets, forms, cash memos, letterheads and diaries are printed here.

A modernisation plan of the press has been pending for the past several years, causing huge revenue loss to the university. Recently, a proposal worth around Rs 1 crore was sent to University Grants Commission (UGC) for the modernisation of the press.

According to the information, the UGC has not provided any fund for the press since it was established in 1977.

The press is functioning with a press in-charge, foreman, supervisor, two proofreaders, two copyholders, machine man, four compositors and the binder. More than Rs 1.5 lakh is spent every month on their salary.

Though two offset machines, including a mini offset, were installed in the university, the requirement of multi-colour offset machine, which would have facilitated all kinds of printing at the press, remains at the press.

Press in-charge Jairam Prasad told The Telegraph: “A proposal worth Rs 1 crore has been sent to the UGC for the modernisation of the press. There is a proposal to install the latest technology, including multi-colour printing machine, computer, envelope-making machine, and other necessary equipment. Two offset machines, including a mini offset and two computers, have been installed at the press.”

He added: “Only degrees and the question papers are printed from outside. Other documents, including diaries, calendars are printed at the university press.”

Teacher of ancient history and Asian studies Vinod Kumar Yadavendu alleged large scale anomalies in getting the documents printed from outside.

Yadavendu, who is also a former legislator of Bihar Assembly and a former member of MU senate and syndicate, told The Telegraph: “Instead of getting the university press modernised, crores are being spent to print documents from outside.”

He added that the calendar of 2011 printed on the occasion of the convocation in November 2010 was printed from outside.

Recently, MU purchased answer books, each of which cost Rs 56. “If the documents, calendars and the answer books are printed at the university press, revenue could be saved,” Yadavendu said, adding that the press needs to be modernised.

Several others echoed Yadavendu. “While there is press on the campus, the university should upgrade and utilise it. It should not drain lakhs by giving print orders to private companies,” said an employee of the varsity.