Telangana hits educational research plans. UGC denied releasing funds

After schools and colleges here, the Educational research plans are also being severely hit by the Telangana acts that are being carried out across Andhra Pradesh.

Yes, based on the issued cornered on the Telangana Bandh and the desire to partition the state Andhra Pradesh, the UGC has come across the decision, not to release funds for educational research plans until the state formation gets finalised.

The research comprised of plans in educational institutions as new collaboration among the universities located in all the three regions, which are now on hold.

The UGC which had to release funds worth Rs. 60 crores has denied releasing them until the state formation gets finalised.

It seems like the further delay in formation of Telangana state, could postpone the release of funds for these educational research plans.

As per UGC norms for collaborative research projects related to state universities, the varsities in question should explain why their research would benefit the state. With the division, UGC must be told which state would be the beneficiary of the research work.

An official from Osmania University said,"The UGC needs a clear understanding of what the collaboration would be before they release funds. The modes of collaboration between universities in the state are different from those in other states. The release of funds for different projects is different."

A spokesperson from Kakatiya University, Warangal which has had a tie up with Srivekateswara University in the field of plant microbiology said, "UGC should also be intimated whether the project is national or state specific. In science projects, the field work would spill into both the states after the division, thereby increasing the estimated cost of the project."

A senior researcher ruled, "Research works of independent researchers were pre-approved by the state government as they involved large sample sizes which spread across undivided Andhra Pradesh. These will now have to be approved afresh by the new state governments."

However, the confusion over the UGC and institutional research plans will last, only if they get detailed correspondence from the State Government.