Ranchi University
Seat of Decay or March towards Improvement?

Sharbani Chattoraj

Ranchi University (RU) is the oldest and the largest university in the state of Jharkhand. At present Ranchi University includes 23 postgraduate departments, 34 constituent colleges, 15 affiliated colleges, and 12 educational institutions. Established in 1960, it has jurisdiction over the districts of Ranchi, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Palamau, Saraikella, Garhwa, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga and Latehar. The general perception among the people of Jharkhand is that the University is not fulfilling any significant function that it simply continues to exist because it would be too much trouble to close it down. How true is this impression?

In the last couple of years RU has taken a number of measures to change its face, literally and figuratively. Renovation work has been done in a number of colleges and postgraduate departments. Students will attest to the fact that in the last year or so, their college and departmental building have undergone a massive facelift. One might forgive a student who left the University two years ago for not recognizing the buildings now.

Many developments have taken place and are still taking place which bode well for the future of RU. For example, vocational courses have been introduced with great enthusiasm. If implemented properly, these vocational courses could go a long way in making education meaningful in a state that has the dubious distinction of having 9 out of its 22 districts among the 18 poorest districts of the country! However, it is also necessary to take care that the courses, by their very nature, do not become impractical. It must be seen to that there are at least some jobs in the local or regional economy that can absorb those who have such specialized degrees. Adequate infrastructure must be put in place so that these courses are not reduced to blackboard teaching classes. The number of students in the university is at whopping 1.5 lac. This becomes all the more important in view of the fact that since the creation of Jharkhand, only 4.7 % of the graduates of the universities of the state have got jobs - a horrifying situation that needs urgent remedies! This is at the monthly fee of just Rs 14 per student!!

Financially, too, RU is pulling up its socks. The HRD Department has gathered individual records of all those employed by the various colleges/ institutions/ departments of the University and funds for salaries are released based on these records. Leakage of money and its diversion to pockets where it did not belong is a thing of the past. No longer is money released for those who are not even employed by the University. Colleges are not required to submit a demand for grants every month and also provide details of how the funds allotted are being spent. Earlier, this exercise used to happen once every six months.

During the centralized evaluation held in Ranchi University in June-July 2006, surveillance cameras were used to narrow down the scope of unfair evaluation! Who says RU is behind its times?

The new UGC scale of salaries has been implemented, along with the UGC directives as to the standard of teaching. Including classes and examinations, Ranchi University has to have 180 days of academic work. Every teacher has to take 18-21 classes per week, and has to stay in the college/ institution concerned for at least five hours every day.

The academic session of the Ranchi University is being regularized. The entire summer vacation is spent taking examinations so that students do not have to suffer later on. With the introduction of the new UGC-approved syllabus, students of RU can be at par with other universities of the country.

Of course a great deal remains to be done if the University has to establish itself as a reputed centre of learning. Excesses committed in the last two decades or so cannot be wished away overnight.

What is still left to do? There are 2, 428 sanctioned teaching posts in the entire Ranchi University, out of which only 1, 665 have been filled: there is only 68.5 % employment among teachers! The rest of the posts must be filled as soon as possible. Steps must be taken immediately to ensure that students have adequate study material regarding the new syllabus, and that books are available in Hindi, the preferred medium of instruction of most of the students in RU. Teachers must also be familiarized with the course through seminars, lectures, and refresher courses. Out of a possible total of 3, 412 non-teaching employees; there are only 2, 598 employees: a deficit of 814 members of staff (23.85%) exists among the non-teaching section of employees. Even now, RU has outstanding dues to its teaching and non-teaching staff to the tune of nearly Rs 190 crore! Rs 6.43 crore taken by members of staff of RU as advance have still not been adjusted from their salaries. A system of financial checks and balances is immediately needed. Salaries are still not paid regularly - at times for a stretch of 3 months or more! No wonder, then, that the brightest minds choose not to go into the teaching profession these days.

It is easy to criticize the way the University has functioned in the past and continues to function even today. It is also very convenient. We often forget that we, the society, are also responsible for the prevailing state of affairs; because, after all, the University is also part of the social space. One hopes that the initiatives taken by the RU administration and the Government of Jharkhand to improve the working of the University will get the support they deserve from the society. Flaws must be pointed out, solutions suggested, a check kept on the powers of the authorities - and who is better suited to perform this function than the civil society?