Kanke MlA blames varsity officials for mess
Agriculture & Sugarcane Development Minister Yogendra Sao today said that funds will not be a limiting factor in the development of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) and Rs 100-crore would be provided to the University if concrete proposals with
justification are submitted to the state government soon. Sao was speaking at the 34th Foundation day ceremony of BAU.
Addressing a gathering at BAU the Minister said that including the central sector schemes, the State Department of Agriculture has an annual budget of about Rs 1000-crore and if all the plans and programmes are executed properly on the ground, Jharkhand may soon attain the status of an exporter state of agro products.
Referring to the manpower crunch in the University, the Minister assured to personally speak to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Jharkhand Public Service Commission Chairman (JPSC) for expediting the process of recruitment against sanctioned vacant posts so that teaching, research and extension education works in the University do not suffer further.
The agriculture university is facing staff crunch especially in the wake of suspension of as many as 50 employees initiated after a judicial probe in the recruitment process which is the office bearers of the University is alleged to have manipulated to recruit their near and dear ones. Also, the University is working under officiating VC RP Singh ‘Ratan’ after Governor Syed Ahmed barred previous VC MP Pandey from discharging duties as the head of the institution. Pandey has reportedly moved High Court against the decision of the Governor.
Further, Sao stressed on special efforts for increasing the area and productivity of sugarcane in the state. The minister advised the University to have better coordination with the departments of finance, agriculture, ICAR and Rajbhavan for accelerated all round development of the institution.
In a blatant accusation local MlA Ramchandra Baitha blamed University officials for the ongoing problems and the fiasco of the past and urged them to find the way out of the muddle. Baitha said all cadres of employees, officers and scientists of the University were responsible for the problems of the institution and stressed on overcoming jealousy and ill-will towards fellow colleagues.
The officiating VC who is also Director Extension Education outlined the achievements and problems of the University and urged the Agriculture Minister to provide one time grant of Rs 100-crore to the University for overcoming the problems of overdraft, delayed salary payment, incomplete infrastructure projects among many other problems lingering due to financial crunch. The University is also being pressurized by sacked employees for payment of salaries which they claim to be due from last 16 months.
Expressing concern over the deteriorating work culture and system of the University, NK Roy, Director Students’ Welfare stressed on better coordination, mutual respect and relation among the non-teaching staff, students, officers and scientists of the institution for arresting further degradation of the system. Raghav Thakur, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture proposed a vote of thanks.
Agriculture Minister also released various publications of the University and honoured the achiever students, staff and farmers.