Haryana govt loosens purse strings for Chair in Hooda father’s name at MDU

However,when it comes to the Chair instituted in the name of Hooda’s father,Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda,the Haryana government turns extra magnanimous. The chair has been granted Rs 30 lakh through budgetary allocation for the year 2013-14 even as the other seven Chairs are almost defunct.

While adequate funds were allocated in the budget estimates last year (2012-13) for a few chairs,most of the money was never sanctioned. For instance,an amount of Rs 15.79 lakh was allocated for Sir Chhotu Ram Chair (budget estimates),but only Rs. 2.85 lakh could get sanctioned in the revised estimates. Similarly,Rs 11.93 lakh were allocated for Nehru Chair,but merely Rs 24,000 was sanctioned. Also,a sum of Rs 12.28 lakh was marked in the Budget Estimates for Ambedkar Chair,but only Rs 34,000 was sanctioned. Maharshi Dayanand Chair got Rs 1.35 lakh in budget estimates,but was sanctioned only Rs 72,000. Interestingly,out of Rs 30 lakh allocated for Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda Chair,a sum of Rs 19.6 lakh was sanctioned in the revised estimates.

After coming to power,Hooda,as Chief Minister,instituted three Chairs one each in the name of Suryakant Pandit Lakhmichand Ji,Sant Kabir and Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda. While most of the these are still waiting for Chair Professors,a close aide of Hooda,Gian Singh,77,has been appointed as Chair Professor for Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda Chair.

“Nearly Rs 1 crore have been allocated to the Chair in the mane of CM’s father. What kind of research is being done on him? Also isn’t it the responsibility of the state government to check and find out the reasons why only Hooda Chair is getting lakhs of rupees and no significant work is being done on any other Chair,” a senior Professor at MDU,Rohtak said talking to the Indian Express on condition of anonymity.

Contacted Chair Professor Gian Singh,said,“I used to bring out a magazine in Rohtak and have closely monitored Chaudhary Ranbir Singh’s work. The other Chairs instituted at MDU are lying defunct because the professors have been given additional charges and they do not work. I am doing research on Ranbir Singh for the last four years and the research is still one.”

The Acting vice-chancellor of MDU,HS Chahal, said that he has recently taken the additional charge of the MDU and “it will take me some time” to get details on all the Chairs. “All Chairs should get sufficient funds. I will be seeking a report on the work done so far on all the Chairs,” Chahal,who is also the V-C of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology,Murthal,said.