1 hr ago
BJP Trains College Governing Body Presidents on Oversight
The BJP held a training meeting for people who lead college governing bodies in West Bengal.
More than 450 colleges were represented.
They were told to follow the state’s college administration law.
They must hold meetings regularly and keep proper records.
They must also check college budgets, audits and employee provident fund payments.
The leaders were warned not to misuse college money or interfere politically.
They were asked to help keep campuses safe and support student activities.
The higher education minister said the goal was to reduce corruption and improve colleges over the next two to three years.
Student elections will be held only in colleges with enough students.
The BJP held a workshop for governing body presidents from more than 450 West Bengal colleges.
Presidents were instructed to follow the 2017 West Bengal Universities and Colleges Administration and Regulation Act.
Guidelines called for regular meetings, advance agendas, preserved minutes, audits and monitoring of decisions.
They were warned against corruption, political interference, blank cheques, unilateral decisions and illegal recruitment.
The government appointed BJP lawmakers as presidents of governing bodies in 455 aided colleges.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, governing body presidents, Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay, and other state officials.
- What
- A workshop provided guidelines on college governance, financial oversight, recruitment, student welfare and meeting procedures.
- Where
- The National Library in West Bengal.
- When
- Tuesday; appointments were made in phases in August and September.
- Why
- To improve transparency, prevent corruption and political interference, and help newly appointed governing body presidents run colleges according to state rules.
BJP and Government Position
Reported Counterpoint
Need for governance reforms
BJP and Government Position
BJP leaders and the higher education minister said stronger oversight, regular audits and non-political administration were needed, and alleged that college governing bodies had experienced widespread corruption under the previous TMC administration.
Reported Counterpoint
The article does not report a response from the TMC or an independent assessment supporting or disputing those allegations.
Political appointments
BJP and Government Position
The government appointed BJP MLAs and MPs as governing body presidents and said they were being trained to follow rules and avoid political interference in colleges.
Reported Counterpoint
The article provides no opposing statement about whether appointing BJP lawmakers could itself create concerns about political influence.
Key facts
- Colleges represented
- More than 450 colleges
- Total appointments
- 455 governing body presidents
- Relevant law
- West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Act, 2017
- Meeting quorum
- One-third of governing body members
- First appointment phase
- 247 aided colleges in August
- Later appointments
- 37 followed initially, with another 171 names announced in September
- Stated policy
- Zero tolerance for corruption and political interference
Quotes
A governing body president
A president who attended the BJP workshop
“We have been told to strictly follow the West Bengal Universities and Colleges Administration and Regulation Act, 2017. We have been told not to politicise the educational institutions. A centralised portal is being run by the Higher Education Department and we all have to follow that.”
indianexpress.com
Jagannath Chattopadhyay
West Bengal higher education minister
“Today we held a workshop with presidents of the governing bodies of over 450 colleges. Many are new to this, so we have informed them about the dos and don’ts. Our main aim is to run the colleges without any political interference and in the next two to three years the educational indicators will improve. One can say that today we have done a basic literacy programme for the college presidents.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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