JNU dropping subscriptions of important journals: JNUSU

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union has accused the varsity of dropping the subscription of important journals over paucity of funds. Making the announcement at a press conference, the students body shared documents of the Library Advisory Committee meeting held last month.

Prior to holding the presser, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) said it had got a letter from the administration advising them not to hold the press conference outside the library since such activities within 100 metres of the administration block have been prohibited by the Delhi High Court.

The JNUSU, however, said the press conference was held 800 metres away from the administration block. It alleged that seven subscriptions were dropped by the varsity.

These include EBSCO -International Security and Counterterrorism, Wiley Subject Collection Journal, Nature Journals, Sage Journals, Cambridge Journal, Cell Press Journal and Science Direct, the JNUSU said.

It accused the varsity administration of cutting down library funds from Rs 8 crore to Rs 1.7 crore.

The university, however, rubbished the claims. It said it had been allocating to the library every year an amount of Rs 1.70 crore for books and journals from its grant received annually from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

“However, in the year 2012, the UGC gave one time bulk grant to JNU under the 12th Plan for five years from which an extra amount was allocated for the next five years. Now that the 12th plan has ended the library is running with its regular annual grant,” the varsity had said earlier.

“At the moment, some of the journals that were freely available through INFLIBNET and paid by the UGC are under review and the situation is expected to be sorted out soon,” a varsity official said.

The JNU students union, however, expressed fear that the journals might not be renewed next year.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)