In order to contain the uproar regarding HECI replacing the UGC, HRD Ministry, yesterday, clarified its stance in the scene by releasing a press note. The major point of the uproar is that HECI gives the government the power to disperse the grants money to the universities. In the note, the HRD ministry clarifies that it has not taken any final decision pertaining to the grant-giving powers to the ministry.
The letter reads, "The Ministry of HRD has clarified that no such final decision has yet been taken to shift the grant function to the Ministry...," and goes on to add that "the recommendation about separating the Regulator and grant-giving entity has been made by many an expert committee in the past, and is rooted in sound principles of Governance."
The letter also affirms that the grant-giving process will be based on the merit and completely "unbiased and impartial".
There is an uproar around the formation of HECI or Higher Education Commission of India Act, 2018 as it will replace the UGC Act of 1956. The government recently uploaded a draft on its official website regarding the same.
Since the release of the news, there has been a great restlessness among the stakeholder, which will directly be affected by the move. One main issue with the scenario is that government has given barely 10 days to the stakeholders to review and respond to the draft, which many says in an unfair move on the behalf of the government.
DUTA had condemned the move in a press statement and said ”the new Act will only increase government’s interference in the academic institutes”.