1580 Crore expenditure incurred in GANGA, last 27 years

UP lags behind in Ganga conservation programme: TOI

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/UP-lags-behind-in-Ganga-conservation-programme/articleshow/14918729.cms

UP lags behind in Ganga conservation programme

LUCKNOW: UP is the biggest beneficiary of the Central funds for conservation of the Ganga, but the state is a slow performer when compared to the works undertaken by other states for saving the national river.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has sanctioned projects worth Rs 2,598.47 crore under the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) to UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal.
Though UP has got maximum funds - Rs 1,341.60 crore -- from the Centre's kitty for pollution abatement works on the Ganga, the state's progress is slow on the sanctioned projects. Sewage Treatment Plants of 313 mld capacity have to be set up in UP, which is the maximum capacity among all the beneficiary states.
Contrarily, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttrakhand, which have bagged lesser funds, are making better progress.
The National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) under MoEF revealed the facts and figures on NGRBA in response to a query by an RTI seeker Mahendra Pratap Singh.
NGRBA has been in existence for the past three years. The Centre had set up the authority in September 2009 to give Ganga-conservation the needed impetus. The Centre government released funds to UP, Uttrakhand, Bihar and WB between 2009 and 2011 for the development of sewer networks, sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, electric creamtoria, community toilets and river fronts.
In UP, projects have been sanctioned for Allahabad, Varanasi, Garmukteshwar, Kannauj and Moradabad (Ramganga) stretch of the river. The projects include installing sewerage systems and STPs, development of ghats and making community toilet complexes.
The present status of most of the works, however, is 'under implementation'. The state got seven projects sanctioned for Ganga conservation. The state has started work on five projects, but is yet to begin work on two projects. For the development of area under Assi ghat in Varanasi, state twice invited tenders but no response was received.
The other states, however, have made noticeable progress. West Bengal, which got funds released around the same time and for similar projects, has made 75-100% progress on most of the projects. The state was sanctioned 27 projects in 23 towns and has started work on 21 projects while Bihar has started work on all the four sanctioned projects.
These projects are funded on 70:30 cost sharing basis between the Centre and states. The projects, once functional, will have a sewage treatment facility of 465 million litres per day (mld). UP Jal Nigam is an implementing agency in UP.
The industrial pockets in the catchments of Ramganga and Kali rivers and in Kanpur city are significant sources of industrial pollution. The tanneries in Kanpur, distilleries, paper mills and sugar mills in the Kosi, Ramganga and Kali river catchments are also major contributors.
In the Ganga basin, about 12,000 mld sewage is generated, for which presently there is a treatment capacity of only 4,000 mld. A project with World Bank assistance for abatement of pollution in the river at an estimated cost of Rs 7,000 crore was approved in April 2011. The World Bank approved the project proposal in May 2011. The Centre's share will be Rs 5,100 crore while that of Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and WB will be Rs 1,900 crore.

UGC witheld the GRANT of BHU: Document sought under RTI Act 2005

Tortoise walk in filling up the Backlogs: A Report by PROJECT VIJAY

Project Vijay is a youth cantered social organisation registered under the Society Act. Project Vijay officials deeply studied about the present status of the teaching staff (Professor, Associate Professor, Reader, Lecturer & others) in the Central Universities of India. They even talked with the teaching staff of the different central universities, thereafter got the factual data under RTI Act 2005 regarding the same from different universities and UGC. The position /condition of SCs, STs or OBCs Professors, Associate Professors, Readers and Assistant Professors that was received in replies to these queries are quite surprising and deplorable. As per the data received therefrom is that even 1.26% (Approx) post of Professor under SC/ST category is not filled in these Central Universities so far.

Information provided by UGC under RTI Act 2005, Reference No. F.25-23/2009(CU) dated 01.07.2010  total existing teaching strength of 24 Universities as on 31.03.2009 indicating the no. of positions filled up against SC,ST, OBC and PH quota

Name of The Post	Sanctioned Post	Existing Strength	No. of Positions
TEACHING			SC	ST	OBC	PWD
Professor	1864	1977	14	11	6	4
Reader	3533	2568	38	23	12	5
SL/SG		647	34	24	4	0
Lecturer	6688	2642	372	223	81	32
Other	649	567	12	8	1	0
Total	12734	8401	470	289	104	41

Next the information Provided by UGC under RTI Act 2005, Reference No. F. No. 8-27/2011 (SCT)  dated 01.12.2011  Category-wise positions of total no. of Teaching Posts of 24 Universities: 2010-2011

Name of The Post	Number Sanctioned	Number Filled	Out of total filled					Number Required as per central Reservation Policy 15% SC, 7.5%ST of Posts Sanct.		Backlog		Vacant Post
TEACHING			Gen	SC	ST	OBC	PWD	SC	ST	SC	ST
Professor	1688	928	759	24	5	2	6	253	130	229	125	760
Reader	3298	2050	1601	90	26	23	8	494	248	404	222	1248
Lecturer	4921	3382	2605	399	172	170	43	740	369	341	197	1539

It appears as if the central universities are reluctant to fill up these vacant posts as is very much evident from the above data of 24 Universities that  in the year 2009 there were 14 Professors (Vide letter no. F.25-23/2009 (CU) dated 01.07.2010) which increased to only 24 Professors in 2011 (Vide letter no. F.No. 8-27/2011 (SCT) dated 01.12.2011) as provided by UGC.

The Indian Constitution was adopted in Jan 1950. From that very time participation of SC/ST was ensured according to the various Constitutional provisions as is evident in the Constitution of India page 50 Article 16(4)(b), according to which there are provisions of reservation in promotion also. The UPA Govt. formed in 2004 also promised in its Common Minimum Programme that special recruitment drive shall be done to fill up the vacant posts of SCs/STs/OBCs,  in the compliance of which Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pension, Govt. of India has issued these no. of notifications:

·         F. No. 36038/1/2008-Estt (Res) Date: 19.11.2008

§  Subject: Special Recruitment Drive for filling up the backlog reserved vacancies of SCs, STs and OBCs.

·         OM No. 36011/6/2010-Estt (Res) Dated 25.06.2010

§  Subject: Issue of instructions on Reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in services under the Government of India

·         OM No. 36038/1/2008-Estt-Estt (Res) Dated 30.12.2010

§  Subject: Special Recruitment Drive for filling up backlog reserved vacancies for SCs, STs and OBCs

·         DO No. 36038/1/2008-Estt (Res) Dated 10.06.2011

·         OM No. 36038/1/2008 Estt (Res) Dated 26.07.2011

§  Subject: Re-launch of Special Recruitment Drive for filling up backlog reserved vacancies for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

·         OM No. 36027/1/2012 Estt. (Res) Dated 03.02.2012

§  Annual  Report regarding Representation of SCs, STs, OBCs and Person with Disability in the central Government Services as on 1.1.2012

·         OM No. 36038/1/2008-Estt (Res) Dated 09.04.2012

§  Special Recruitment Drive for filling up backlog reserved vacancies for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes - reg.

Inspite of all these OMs the participation of SC/ST Professors is about 1.26% (Approx) i.e. equal to nil. Neither by fresh recruitment nor by promotion, these vacant posts are being filled despite various orders of GOI.

Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pension, Govt. of India orders are mere a showoff in these universities as these orders are never implemented.  Project Vijay tried to seek the information of daily progress report of one of the above mentioned OM dated 30.12.2010 & special recruitment drive for filling up the backlog reserved vacancies from Asia’s no. 1 University  Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi under RTI Act 2005 on 29.11.2011, it was replied from BHU vide letter no. AA/VI-RAC/219 dated 29.12.2011 that “no such office memorandum no. 36038/1/2008-Estt-Estt dated December, 2010 has been received by this office, further no  Special Recruitment Drive for filling up the backlog reserved vacancies for SCs/STs and OBCs teaching post has been advertised”,  and that “no Special Recruitment Drive has been advertised to fill up SC/ST or OBC teaching positions” was also verified by the Deputy Registrar, Recruitment & Assessment Cell, Office of the Registrar (Administration), BHU vide letter ref. no. AA/VI-RAC/265 dated 11/22.02.2012.  And if anytime the posts are advertised then also these are not filled, for which various pleas are adopted to keep away the deprived class from occupying the deserving posts and promotional posts as under:

·   No eligible candidate possessing minimum essential qualification, as advertised, was available.

·   The Selection Committee found no candidate suitable for selection

·   No applications were received.       

which is evident vide letter of Deputy Registrar, Recruitment & Assessment Cell, Office of the Registrar (Administration), BHU addressed to Research Officer National Commission for Scheduled Castes, vide letter ref. no. AA/VI-RAC/819 dated 17.012012.

The most pitiable condition in the same University is in the post of Professor (SC/ST)where they figure nil in the open category. Such discriminating attitude crosses limit where actual sanctioned posts of Professor reserved for SC vide letter Ref. No. AA/VI-RAC/304 dated 17.09.2010 was 52, which was reduced to 51 vide letter no. no. AA/VI-RAC/819 dated 17.01.2012, where this one post has been accumulated/omitted/lost/dereserved ?  better be asked from the university authorities. Whereas as per the data provided by UGC under RTI Act 2005, Reference No. F. No. 8-27/2011 (SCT) dated 01.12.2011 the total sanctioned post of Professor is 345 and the no. of total filled is 171 and that too all goes to the General category only, moreover the present status of General Professor is 594 (including CAS) provided by BHU vide ref no. AB/Teaching/RTI-MPS/3650 dated 25/26.02.2011.

BHU is seeking permission from the Chief Election Commission, New Delhi for advertisement of the vacant post whereas many Central govt. institutions and others have already advertised the backlog positions. It makes clear their intention and unwillingness to fill the backlog.

Above all, a committee has been constituted in BHU, Varanasi to review the reservation criteria applicable in recruitment's for various posts of the University, in the light of  Supreme Court order SC 1095(1997) and GOI/UGC norms. If such is the condition of Asia’s no. 1 university i.e. Banaras Hindu University, then the condition of the other universities is easily understood.

In the light of the above facts it is very clear that the various reserved posts of Assistant Professors, Reader, Associate Professors and Professors are lying vacant & unfilled so far whereas the General category posts are filled in excess to that of posts sanctioned which is totally unjustified & illegal too. The matter be thoroughly investigated and the Backlog posts be filled up. To curv such anomalities following are suggestive:

·         To give a fillip to the matter, the reservation policy be given a shape of Law whose enforcement would be binding by all Govt. departments and non-compliance of which would be punishable.

·         The organisations or the social units engaged to work for the cause of appointment and promotion in central and state level must be given recognition and the recommendations and suggestions of these welfare units should be well considered.

·         The participation of SC/ST/OBC in Executive Council in various universities should also be made at par with General Category by following reservation policy.

·         A body at national level should be constituted to watch and guard against the non- implementation of reservation policy and the universities should be forced to submit its annual report with regards to the advertisement of various vacant posts, their fulfillment and the standing status every year without fail in the super vision of National Commission for Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes.

·         The universities defying the various orders of Central Govt. and UGC for the safeguard of the weaker section of the society should be denied any grant or monitory sanction at all level

Keeping all these facts in view the authorities concerned are requested to take necessary and prompt action in this matter so that participation of deprived section be ensured to a satisfactory level in all the Central Universities of India.

PROJECT VIJAY is making an effort to lessen the discrepancy by requesting the Government get the backlog filled at the earliest.

THE HINDU's Editorial (July 6, 2012) shows concern on the REPORT OF PROJECT VIJAY regarding the filling up the BACKLOG in CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES

 

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article3606836.ece

Battling bias

The revelation that nearly half the teaching positions reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Central universities remain unfilled is a cause for serious concern for policymakers in government and academia. According to information obtained through the Right to Information, 48.5 per cent of posts for SCs and STs in 24 Central universities across the country were vacant during 2010-2011.The reasons given for the dearth of “suitable candidates” to fill these vacancies are varied and, sometimes, contradictory. Many institutions of higher learning would rather leave reserved posts empty than fill them with the best among the available candidates. Surely, the academic costs of letting posts go unfilled are quite high for any institution. Even in the absence of objective criteria for evaluation, a loosely defined concept of merit is conveniently used to keep out eligible candidates. Laws and rules are often undermined by systemic bias. Sometimes, the institutions also point to the absence of qualified applicants, arguing that the most talented among the weaker sections opt for a more lucrative career in the civil service rather than for academics. In effect, the argument is that candidates belonging to SC and ST categories are either too good or too poor for the university system.

While the RTI query that brought out the backlog in filling vacancies in the SC/ST categories was specific to Central universities, the situation is unlikely to be very different in other educational institutions anywhere in the country. Even the adoption of a system of recruitment through roster registers in cases where the vacancies are few and far between (as in universities) has not produced very encouraging results. Without conscious, radical interventions from policymakers and administrators, the situation will not improve for Dalit and Adivasi candidates seeking employment in institutions of learning. Even if one were to accept for a moment that there are not enough qualified applicants, the fault for this surely lies with the Central and State governments which have done little to provide equality of opportunity for SCs and STs at the primary and secondary educational levels. A recent illustration of just how hostile the system can be towards Dalits and Adivasis was provided by the report this week that students of a school in Tamil Nadu were prevented by their caste Hindu parents from attending classes following the appointment of two Dalit women as cook and helper at the noon meal centre. Quite shockingly, the Block Development Officer agreed to transfer the employees as the parents belonging to the Kambalathu Naicker community insisted their children would not eat food cooked by them.

Banaras Hindu University has the poorest record of clearing the backlog: The Hindu

The Hindu National 2^nd July 2012

Half of SC/ST teaching posts unfilled in Central varsities

RAHI GAIKWAD

In the filled slots, SCs constitute just 12% against the stipulated 15% and STs 5% instead of 7.5%

Among the ills that plague the Indian higher education system is the continued poor stake of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in it. Year on year, the huge backlog of vacancies in teaching positions in SC/ST categories remains a constant concern with little change in its position.

Nearly half the teaching positions for SCs and STs in Central Universities are still unfilled. According to the data provided by the government of India in December 2011 to a Right to Information query by Lucknow-based activist Mahendra Pratap Singh, 48.5 per cent of posts in these two categories in 24 Central varsities were vacant during 2010-2011. The stipulated quota for SCs and STs in Central institutions is 15 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively.

For the year, 2010-211, the total backlog in SC category at the entry-level position of Lecturer was 341 out of 740 required posts. Thus, 46 per cent of these posts were unfilled. In the ST category, 197 or 53 per cent of posts were vacant out of the required posts of 369.

Under-representation

The huge gap points to the under-representation of these marginalised communities in educational institutions. The SCs constitute 12 per cent of the total filled positions in Central Universities and STs constitute five per cent of the filled posts.

Climbing up to the prestigious ranks of Reader and Professor, their share gets alarmingly dismal. Over 84 per cent of posts for Readers in the SC-ST category were vacant in 2010-2011. And, over 92 per cent Professor’s positions in these categories are vacant.

The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has consistently had the poorest record of clearing the backlog. There was a whopping 59.7 per cent of SC and ST vacancies in lecturer positions itself in 2010-2011.

A BHU source confirmed the situation remained the same in 2012 as well, since the University had not undertaken a recruitment drive in the past few months to clear this backlog.

In fact, the current position is as bad if not worse, compared to previous years. As per the 2007-08 figures, obtained by The Hindu under RTI, SC-ST vacancy in BHU for the lecturer position was at 52 per cent.

“The problem,” remarked Subhash Lakhotia, Professor Emeritus at BHU, “is that candidates are often not found suitable.” — a reason cited across the board for poor implementation of the reservation policy.

“The university has to consider certain minimal requirement. Many teaching positions are for specialised candidates. The quality of degrees our education system gives is not [of a very high standard]. So, although candidates meet the eligibility criteria, they are not found suitable. A large number of open posts are also vacant,” Mr. Lakhotia told The Hindu on the phone.

“The fallacy lies in the system. The graduates coming out today are unemployable,” he pointed out.

The overall concerns over standards notwithstanding, the approach to implementation of reservation is complicated by a notional linking of the reservation policy with impoverishment of “quality” of education.

“I would not like reservation anywhere. Higher education is about quality. The government says launch a special drive to fill posts; it is in their interest. But in the process you lose out on quality,” remarked Mr. Lakhotia.

“Reservation has made things worse,” remarked a source from BHU. “You don’t get quality people. SC/ST candidates are competent. The ones from Maharashtra and the northeast are good. Tezpur University is doing very well. That’s because their graduates return to their native place.”

Another reason cited by BHU was the increase in the retirement age to 65 years (as per 2006 UGC recommendations). “For some years, no one retired and then there were mass retirements creating a sudden vacancy. In Banaras, availability of housing and other facilities is a major problem. So no one wants to take up jobs here,” an official remarked.

Making matters worse, the quota policy itself is looked upon as a benevolent act towards the lower sections, rather than an affirmative and necessary provision to ensure the fair share of SCs and STs in education, long denied due to the caste system.

“Let me point out,” said a BHU professor in a letter to the BHU Vice-Chancellor, obtained through RTI by Mr. Singh, “that we are aware of our social responsibilities and compulsions which implies some reservation to be done for [the] weaker section.”

Arguing for “phased reservation,” he wrote that the university must ensure that “the weaker sections get advantage at the entry level through phased reservation, but at the same time the academic profile/glamour/reputation of the university remains intact.”

‘Centre of excellence’

One argument put forth by the BHU is also that it is considered a “centre of excellence.” Therefore, it should be excluded from the reservation policy.

Dr. Vikas Gupta from the Delhi University said that filling posts roster-wise would help ease the backlog. That entailed marking posts in departments as per each category and so on.

“Roster implementation takes care of many of the [gaps] in filling reserved posts. Every department has to maintain a roster of posts to ensure full reservation and avoid manipulation. Rosters should be made public by all universities.”

According to Mr. Gupta, earlier universities in their advertisements would mention only the number of reserved posts without specifying which post was for which community — SC/ST/OBC. So, a candidate did not know which post she/he was applying for.

This way, universities “got the free ground to keep people confused.” Everyone is applying for everything. After the interview, the decision is made [on selection for a particular department post]. “This is unfair. This is how it is manipulated,” Mr. Gupta said.

He remarked the situation was changing with universities going in for the roster system.

Despite, repeated attempts, the University Grants Commission did not respond to The Hindu ’s queries on the issue.

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·  Banaras Hindu University has the poorest record of clearing the backlog

·  Situation changing with universities going in for roster system