Burdwan University, West Bengal
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Item Performance Audit on Working of Burdwan University in West Bengal (2009-2014)(CAG of India, 04-07-2016) CAG of IndiaThe University of Burdwan (BU) has a jurisdiction spread over the districts of Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura and a part of Hooghly. The University has two faculties — Arts and Science -- encompassing 29 departments offering 38 post-graduate courses, six undergraduate engineering courses and seven diploma/ post diploma courses and three certificate courses. It has 163 colleges affiliated to it. The University also manages a professional college viz. University Institute of Technology within the University Campus. The performance audit undertaken between March and June 2014 covering the five year period 2009-14 brought forth deficiencies in the functioning of the University with respect to planning, management of funds, academic activities and oversight mechanism. 1. Absence of Perspective plan encompassing goals for teaching and learning, research and development and human resource planning impeded the overall functioning of the University. 2. There were several issues in respect of financial management. Adherence to due process was not ensured in Budget preparation. University obtained excess grants from the State Government by inflating the staff strength. Provident Fund was maintained without following crucial Government instructions such as creation of Pension fund, framing statutes for GPF, etc. Annual Statement of Accounts had not been prepared for the last 12 years indicating lax handling of financial affairs of the University. 3. The research activities of the University did not present an encouraging picture as research output was modest. The University also had deficiencies in the IT front as adequacy of IT infrastructure was not evaluated and policies for IT security not formulated. 4. There were shortages of class rooms, laboratories, etc. 5. The University‘s initiatives in enhancing access, relevance and quality of education were sub-optimal. There was only a marginal increase in intake capacity of the University in PG studies despite increasing demand. The University started only three new courses during last five years. Quality Assurance Cell meant for planning, guiding and monitoring quality assurance and quality enhancement was not functioning as mandated. 6. The University had noticeable shortage of manpower especially in teaching, leading to adverse teacher-student ratio which could affect the quality of learning. The recruitment process required streamlining as there was no regular system of reporting of vacancies and there were instances of flouting of recruitment norms. Adequate attention was not given to the capacity building of teaching staff. 7. Oversight was tenuous as the Inspector of Colleges, Faculty Councils for Post Graduate Studies and the State Government failed in discharging their mandated monitoring functions. Further, State Government was not fully cognizant of the state of affairs of the University as its representatives in the Court and the EC did not attend the meetings.