Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 23: Mangalore University, one of the oldest public universities in Karnataka, is grappling with a severe financial crisis, with its reserve funds depleted and even local tax payments pending. The university is struggling to pay salaries to outsourced employees and pensions to retired staff. The financial constraints have also forced the closure of over eight academic courses due to an inability to recruit faculty.

Despite repeated notices from the Konaje Gram Panchayat between 2022 and 2024, the university has been unable to clear pending property tax dues amounting to Rs 40 lac due to a lack of funds. In a desperate attempt to generate revenue, the university has started renting out its auditorium for weddings.

The financial crisis worsened after the previous government established a separate university for Kodagu, incorporating 26 affiliated colleges from Mangalore University. This move led to a significant drop in student enrollment, further diminishing the university’s internal revenue. The number of affiliated colleges has fallen from 208 to 150, with 26 colleges joining Kodagu University and nine becoming autonomous institutions. The decline in student admissions has severely impacted the university’s income from tuition and examination fees.

Previously, Mangalore University had 370 permanent faculty members, but this number has now dwindled to 160 due to retirements. Over the past 16 years, no new permanent faculty appointments have been made. Currently, the university operates 26 departments with 40 programs, relying on 250 guest lecturers who are paid Rs 40,000 per month from the university's funds. Officials say the government has not provided financial support for the past seven years, further exacerbating the crisis.

The university requires Rs 1.5 crore to pay guest lecturers and Rs 1.15 crore for the pensions of 409 retired employees. Initially, the government released Rs 83 lac for pensions but later approved an additional Rs 1.3 crore. However, pending payments for 24 retirees still need to be cleared.

To manage expenses, the university has reduced its outsourced workforce by terminating 124 employees out of 460, cut departmental expenses by Rs 70,000 per division, and discontinued 40 telephone connections, saving Rs 40,000 monthly. The government, upon reviewing these cost-cutting measures, released the pending pension funds.

Departments with fewer than 15 students have been temporarily closed, with courses reopening only if student enrollment increases. Currently, only departments with at least 10 students are operational. The university has shut down its history and commerce departments, along with nine other programs, including environmental science, statistics, electronics, MEd, MSW, geo-informatics, material science, and mass communication and journalism.

Mangalore University, covering Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, has a total budget of Rs 74.88 crore, including Rs 58.29 crore in internal revenue and Rs 16.59 crore from government grants. However, its estimated expenditure stands at Rs 87.93 crore, resulting in a budget deficit of Rs 13.05 crore.

The university has also been plagued by corruption scandals. Investigations were conducted into alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs 100 crore during the tenures of former vice-chancellors Prof Shivashankaramurthy and Prof K Byrappa. However, both individuals passed away before the findings could be presented in the syndicate meeting. Additionally, a Rs 53.71 crore foreign students' hostel remains incomplete, while Rs 36.6 crore was paid to contractors for an abandoned hostel project.

Established in Konaje, 20 km from Mangaluru, Mangalore University was initially a postgraduate center of Mysore University. It became an independent institution in 1972, with efforts led by banking expert Suryanarayana Adiga and legislator U T Fareed. Kannada scholar Prof S V Parameshwar Bhat named the campus ‘Mangal Gangotri’ after Mysore University's Manasa Gangotri.

Mangalore University vice-chancellor Prof P L Dharma stated, "The university is facing a severe financial crisis due to various reasons. We are making all possible efforts to overcome these challenges and are awaiting necessary grants from the government for further development."

Former vice-chancellor Prof P S Yadapadithaya added, "Despite the establishment of a separate university for Kodagu, no basic infrastructure was provided. If the government releases five years’ worth of pension funds at once, managing the university will become easier. Otherwise, we have to rely solely on exam and admission fees to sustain operations. The government must provide immediate financial assistance for new developmental projects."