Cash-strapped UoM gets paltry ₹8 crore in block grants, faculty fume

FACULTY members and academicians of the University of Madras (UoM) are aggrieved that the institution, which is in a deep financial crisis, has been sanctioned a mere ₹7.59 crore as a block grant from the higher education department.

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The university presented a deficit budget of ₹132.33 crore for 2024-25 and is in urgent need of funds to pay salaries and pensions.

"It is intriguing and disappointing to note that Madras University has been sanctioned a block grant of a mere ₹7.59 crore, which is one-third of the grant provided to Bharathidasan University (₹21.45 crore) and Bharathiar University (₹19.64 crore). Thiruvalluvar University has been granted ₹11.7 crore and has benefitted more than UoM. These universities were established way after UoM. This is unfair and the basis on which this allocation has been made should be divulged," said a senior professor of the university.