Principals rally against NSS cell head

MUMBAI, October 1: The University of Mumbai's National Service Scheme NSS cell, better known for taking the message of social service t...

MUMBAI, October 1: The University of Mumbai8217;s National Service Scheme NSS cell, better known for taking the message of social service to students, is in the midst of a row that could blemish its hallowed image. Principals affiliated to the Association of Non Government Colleges ANGC have arrayed themselves against the cell8217;s programme co-ordinator, Professor Dinesh Panjwani, accusing him of high-handedness and arbitrariness. In a letter dashed off to vice-chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh early this month, the principals have demanded that Panjwani be asked to restrain himself and learn his limits.

In the letter, ANGC has expressed its unhappiness over the manner in which Panjwani is running the show. ANGC president, M G Shirahatti from Lala Lajpatrai College, Haji Ali, alleged that Panjwani was blocking student enrolment to the cell. 8220;At his own whim, he reduces the allotted strength of a college unit. Besides, he is also turning down applicants on such flimsy grounds as students8217; blood groups notbeing indicated against their names in the registeration forms.8221; Incidentally, the NSS cell has enrolled 28,000 volunteers per year for the last two years, the highest in the country.

Panjwani is also attempting to impose his decisions onto principals by asking them to replace the NSS in-charge in their respective colleges, alleged Shirhatti. Panjwani8217;s high-handedness8217; is not just unwarranted, it also amounts to uncalled for interference in the internal administration of the college, maintained Shirhatti.

Panjwani countered that he has always gone by the book, in this case, the NSS manual published by the Ministry of Human Resource Developement, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. 8220;I had asked just one college that its student leader be replaced as he was holding the post at both the degree college and junior college levels,8221; he said.

Two factors primarily govern the decision to shrink or increase volunteer strength in colleges 8211; the number of volunteers participatingin special camps, and whether the NSS incharge is attending training and orientation programmes aimed at them, explained Panjwani.

This year, volunteer strength was reduced in around 40 colleges and increased in 45. While 60 colleges maintained the number of volunteers, NSS cells were introduced in 15 colleges, informed Panjwani. The university was also among the first to start the cell way 1969 itself.

However, vice president of ANGC, Principal S G Chitale from Hazarilal Somani College at Chowpatty hit out at the manner in which Panjwani was deciding volunteer strength. Referring to a letter sent by Panjwani on September 8, he said, 8220;The rules notwithstanding, just because my NSS student leader failed to attend a leadership camp, Panjwani could not reduce the strength of volunteers from 200 to 100 at one shot without conducting a prior inquiry. And if there was any valid ground in doing so, why then did he later revert to the original figure?8221;

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In another instance, an NSS volunteer8217;s list submittedby the principal of Balbharti college at Kandivli was sent back simply because it failed to mention the students8217; blood group. 8220;Why couldn8217;t Panjwani have accepted the list and asked that the blanks be filled later?8221; questioned principals. They claimed that this sort of brashness8217; was unheard of.

Panjwani maintained that principals had never complained to him about any unpleasent experiences. Rather, the record enrolment achieved under his stewardship spoke for the co-operation by colleges, he said. But principals maintained that the improved performance of the NSS university cell had more to do with increasing consciousness among colleges rather than Panjwani8217;s acumen.

Confirming the receipt of the letter, vice-chancellor Deshmukh said she would hold dialogues with both the parties to sort the matter.