The Delhi University has increased its annual fees by 46 percent to Rs 2,350 across various categories, prompting accusations from some teachers that it is an effort to use students’ funds to repay interest on Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) loans.

Despite allegations, DU Registrar Vikas Gupta denied any connection between the fee hike and HEFA loans, asserting that the university possesses sufficient funds to cover the interest.

HEFA had approved a loan corpus of Rs 930 crore, as confirmed by Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh in October. According to an official circular issued on June 7, the university announced a doubling of charges for facilities and services to Rs 1,000, effective from the academic year 2023-24.

Moreover, the charges for students’ welfare funds have doubled to Rs 200, and the development fund charges have increased by over 10 percent to Rs 1,000 from the revised Rs 900 in June the previous year.

For the economically weaker section support university fund, the annual charges have been revised to Rs 150 for the upcoming academic year. This marks the second hike within a year, with the last increase in annual charges reported in July of the previous year, following a 13-year hiatus. The university development fund component saw an increase to Rs 900 from Rs 600 in 2022.

Teachers and academic council members of Delhi University allege that the fee hike is a means to repay interest on the HEFA loan, criticizing the move for potentially making education inaccessible. A proposal aimed at enhancing the university’s global ranking has faced criticism for relying on private funding, potentially resulting in further fee hikes.

The Left-affiliated Democratic Teachers’ Front has called for the withdrawal of the ‘Strategic Plan 2022-2047,’ scheduled for discussion at the Academic Council on December 6, citing concerns about plagiarism and the negative impact on the university’s public character and academic programs. The Academic Council is set to finalize key proposals discussed during its November 30 meeting.

Source: PTI

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