North Bengal University (NBU) has expressed hope that it will get more funds under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). RUSA, under the ministry of human resource development, is a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) launched in 2013, and it aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions.

The funds are provided to higher educational institutions through state governments to upgrade and set up infrastructure, bring about changes in the academic and examination systems and undertake research work. It had given Rs 15 crore to the university for academic projects and infrastructure development in the financial year 2016-17. Two officials of the department of higher education of the West Bengal government held a meeting with NBU officials on Sunday. Gopal Chakrabarty and Sisir Ranjan Bhaduri visited the campus in the last two days to review the utilisation of the funds.

They visited as nodal officers of RUSA in West Bengal. Prof Sanchari Roy Mukherjee, the dean of the arts, commerce and law of the university, chaired the meeting in the absence of the vice-chancellor (V-C). The tenure of the VC ended on 10 February, while there is no official announcement of the new V-C. Sources said they would submit reports to the department of higher education. The V-C is the chairman of the project monitoring unit of the RUSA in universities by the virtue of the post.

“We have been able to utilise the RUS funds in a proper manner. Development projects have been initiated with the funds, like we purchased books worth around Rs 5 crore, built smart class rooms, introduced cluster computers, set up water refinery projects at the boys’ and girls’ hostels. It appears that the delegation was satisfied with the developments and more funds are likely to be sanctioned in the second phase,” said registrar (officiating), NBU, Dr Laxmikanta Padhi.

NBU officials said the university plans to construct new boys’ and girls’ hostels, introduce the WI-FI system and initiate other projects in the campus in the next phase. However, questions have been raised over the delay of the installation of CCTV cameras. It has been a long-pending demand, especially on grounds of security. Dr Pandhi said the process to install them was underway. “Some cameras have been installed in the hostels. Process to install all the cameras has already started,” he added. The university is accredited with ‘A’ grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.