Delhi education minister Atishi has approved the release of Rs 100 crore in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024–25. Delhi government to fund DU colleges. The sanction represents the second installment of the Delhi government’s financial commitment to the Delhi University colleges.
The government stated that since Kejriwal’s administration took office, the budget allocation for educational institutes and DU colleges has more than tripled. In the fiscal year 2014–15, the allocated budget was Rs. 132 crore for the Delhi government to fund DU colleges, which has increased to Rs. 400 crore in the current financial year.
“Education has always been the biggest priority for the Kejriwal government. Since coming to power, every year, the largest share of the budget is dedicated to education,” Atishi remarked, showcasing their attentiveness towards education.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, the Delhi Education Ministry has allocated a total budget of Rs. 400 crore for the Delhi government to fund DU colleges.
The DU colleges benefiting from these allocations include Acharya Narendra Dev College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Bhagini Nivedita College, Bhaskaracharya College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Maharaja Agrasen College, Maharishi Valmiki College, Shaheed Rajguru College, and Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.
The statement also highlighted that the DU colleges fully funded by the Delhi government play a crucial role in the city’s higher education system. Atishi’s statement emphasised that the government under CM Kejriwal is focusing on both school and higher education systems in Delhi.
The government has made significant advancements in higher education by establishing three universities and expanding the existing ones. The education minister acknowledged the financial mismanagement that has plagued these 12 DU colleges in recent years, assuring that the Delhi government will ensure teachers and students do not suffer as a result of administrative errors.
“The government is committed to the welfare of teachers, ensuring they receive their salaries on time, as well as their medical and pension benefits. As a result, the Delhi government has released Rs 100 crore for these colleges in the second quarter,” she added.
Earlier, AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha had alleged that the delay in releasing salaries of Delhi University professors was a conspiracy against the Arvind Kejriwal government. Jha also told the press conference that the salaries of DU colleges were still pending despite the Delhi Education Minister sanctioning Rs 100 crore for Delhi government to fund DU colleges. Atishi had finally directed that the second quarterly grant of Rs 100 crore should be released without any further delay.
