Prakash Javadekar, Union Human Resource Development (HRD) minister, reclaimed that the UGC move to grant autonomy to 60 institutes is not a measure to pave the way for ‘privatisation of education’ or fee-hikes, and stated that government will still support the educational institutions like earlier.
The minister also asserted that the Union government would continue to fund the salaries of the faculty as well as provide other grants while addressing the apprehensions of students and faculties across the country.
He further told Press Trust of India that greater autonomy essentially meant higher liberty to these institutes in order to take fresh academic initiatives.
“The autonomy being granted to JNU and others is in no way a step towards privatisation of education as is being suggested by some quarters,” the minister said.
JNU Teachers Association has earlier expressed doubts about the autonomy saying that the clause was part of the draft National Education Policy of the government in power.
“The government had to withdraw the draft in face of opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Now, the government is trying to push those provisions by the back door using the UGC as a pliant body,” JNUTA said.