Card 1 :
Conversion of University of Unrest & Discontent to University of Peace & Harmony.
I joined YCMOU as the Vice-Chancellor for the period of six months on 20th Sep. 2009. At that time the environment in the university was polluted, politicized, agitation-hit & unacademic. There were serious problems on the campus including unruliness, mistrust between administration and teaching- non-teaching staff which had resulted in creating a situation of inefficiency, noncooperation, infightings. This environment of unrest was a difficult challenge for any academic administrator, so it was for me too. In this challenging situation, I decided to establish rule of law, peace and academic environment on the campus. I interacted and had a dialogue with every section of university from class-iv employees to officers and teachers to directors and all other stakeholders. I tried to understand their grievances, their view points, their allegations regarding the issues and problems of the university. I assured them that, within the framework of the University Act and objectives of the university all possible solutions will be positively considered for meeting out their problems and grievances. Thus I developed an environment of dialogue, interaction, and discussion in a democratic manner using my skills of communication being a teacher of Journalism and Mass Communication. I proudly put on record that, within a period of month and a half, the environment changed dramatically and all teachers and staff started giving cooperation in improving the efficiency and service to the students at large. This was a kind of crisis management for me and it was a great learning experience in managing the academic institutions like university.
Card 2 :
Making YCMOU’s Financial Position sound by
Adopting Corporate Fund Management Techniques.
The university’s funds were improperly managed and there was a situation of
financial mismanagement. I studied the financial situation of the YCMOU,
applied my mind inorder to over come the issues of mismanagement and took
steps to adopt latest Corporate Fund Management Techniques by conducting
meetings of Finance Committee, Investment Committee, Planning Board and
Board of Management.The University presently does not receive a single rupee salary grant from Govt.
Of Maharashtra. All other universities receive such grants. Thus its a financial
challenge for the university to earn surplus income for making it possible to
generate income for the regular payment of salary to its staff. The requirement of
annual salary is around 12 to 14 crores. I took an initiative to design &
impliment a proper fund management policy like the corporate sector.From Loosing Interest to Gaining Interest
The long term investment in RBI Bonds of the YCMOU in September 2009 was Rs. 20 crores & 40 lakhs. It was essential to improve this long term investment with highest possible interest rate like RBI Bonds with 8% interest. With my consistent efforts and fun management techniques during the short period of six months long term investment in RBI Bonds reached to 85 crores. Thus during my tenure, I added 65 crore rupees in the RBI Bonds with 8% interest, yielding more interest income to university.Along with this investment daily deposit system of fund management was
introduced with approval of concerned authorities and the fund which was
kept in current & saving account without earning any interest in the tune of 2-
3 crore rupees was converted into 91 days deposits with 7% interest, 15 days
short term deposit with 4% interest & liquid deposit of few days (5 to 7) days
with 2.5% interest. Thus every rupee received by the university has been
converted into a deposit to earn additional interest. By this method university
is bound to earn additional interest of around 4 to 5 crore rupees every year.
System of payment of fees by student with DD. These DD’s were reaching to
the bank account in the timespan of 3 to 6 months. Thus university was
loosing interest of this entire period. It was decided to use e-payment & direct
account payment system at every study centre place through SBI, CBI &
Bank of Maharashtra directly to universitys account, thus gaining additional
interest for 3 to 6 months nearing one crore rupees every year.
Card 2 :
Making YCMOU’s Financial Position sound by
Adopting Corporate Fund Management Techniques.
The university’s funds were improperly managed and there was a situation of
financial mismanagement. I studied the financial situation of the YCMOU,
applied my mind inorder to over come the issues of mismanagement and took
steps to adopt latest Corporate Fund Management Techniques by conducting
meetings of Finance Committee, Investment Committee, Planning Board and
Board of Management.The University presently does not receive a single rupee salary grant from Govt.
Of Maharashtra. All other universities receive such grants. Thus its a financial
challenge for the university to earn surplus income for making it possible to
generate income for the regular payment of salary to its staff. The requirement of
annual salary is around 12 to 14 crores. I took an initiative to design &
impliment a proper fund management policy like the corporate sector.
From Loosing Interest to Gaining Interest
The long term investment in RBI Bonds of the YCMOU in September 2009 was Rs. 20 crores & 40 lakhs. It was essential to improve this long term investment with highest possible interest rate like RBI Bonds with 8% interest. With my consistent efforts and fun management techniques during the short period of six months long term investment in RBI Bonds reached to 85 crores. Thus during my tenure, I added 65 crore rupees in the RBI Bonds with 8% interest, yielding more interest income to university.
Sound Figures speak
Long Term RBI Depsits as on Sept. 2009 : Rs. 20 crore & 40 lakhs
Long Term RBI Deposits as on March 2010 : Rs. 85 crores
Card 3 :
G. O. I. Scholarship to S. C. Students! Dream of
Deprived sections fullfilled after 20 years because of
the proactive followup!
YCMOU is the university for deprived sections of society. Most of the
students belong to rural & weaker sections, urban poor, women & S. C. /S.T.
students. There was dire need to get Govt. Of India scholarship for S. C.
students because of their acute poverty. Without the support at scholarship
they were unable to sustain in the higher education stream.But though, the university was established by Govt. of Maharashtra G. O. I.
Scholarship was not available for the S. C. students for years together. Earlier
attempts in this direction had failed. I made a strong respresentation to the
Chief Minister, Social Justice Minister, Principal Secretary and Director,
Social Justice. With owing to the consistent persuation & convincing
arguments Govt. of Maharashtra issued orders. Mr. Y. Z. Khobragade,
Director, Social Justice gave directive to all District Social welfare officers to
sanction G. O. I. scholarship, freeship to YCMOU students as per rules; like
other universities. Now due to this decision, most of the backward class S. C.
students can persue YCMOU course with freeship & scholarship. It is
expected that, many more S. C. Students would now be in a position to join
YCMOU courses without any financial hurdle
This achievement oc social justice got sanctioned within two months time by proactive role & follow up of myself Hence forth, thousands & thousands students of S. C. Category would enjoy
this facility immediately.
This is a strong step in the 11th plan, towards inclusive higher education.I also wrote to Tribal Development Ministry to provide same facility to S. T.
students & it is under consideration. Also request letters have been sent to provide scholarship / freeships to O. B. C., NT/DNT/& economically backward sections (EBC) of society. This is a social justice drive of YCMOU, under my leadership.