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AU offered ?gift? worth Rs 100 cr
THE MADAN Mohan Malviya University College (Hindu Hostel) Trust has put forth a unique 'Rs 100-crore gift' proposal before the Allahabad University (AU) officials.
THE MADAN Mohan Malviya University College (Hindu Hostel) Trust has put forth a unique 'Rs 100-crore gift' proposal before the Allahabad University (AU) officials.
The trust has volunteered to hand over the Hindu Hostel— established by freedom fighter and great educationist Madan Mohan Malviya in 1901— along with its management and maintenance rights and also the huge plot of land, on which it is situated, to the varsity on a "perpetual lease" against a token payment of just Rs 1 per year.
Secretary of the trust Rajesh Singh, in a letter written to the AU Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajen Harshe, has informed him of the offer of the trust for the benefit of the hostel as well as its inmates.
Through the letter, Singh has pointed out that any hostel cannot be managed properly unless the varsity takes complete control of it. The letter informs the VC that as a result of indirect varsity control, many a student are staying at the hostel for years and then leaving without bothering to even clear their power and water dues.
Singh also informed Prof Harshe that talks about the proposal were held with the then AU VC in November 2003 and January 2004.
"As per the offer, the trust is ready to hand over the hostel with very limited conditions and for a payment of just Rs 1 per year for property whose estimated worth today is around Rs 100 crore," said Justice (Rtd) Giridhar Malviya, grandson of Madan Mohan Malviya, who has been entrusted with the task of making the hostel transfer a reality by the trust.
Justice Malviya said that the only conditions put forward by the trust include the name of the hostel being retained, non-vegetarian food and alcohol to remain banned in the hostel, the property should not be transferred to anyone and the social values with which the hostel was established be respected and adhered to.
The letter requests the varsity to take a decision in this regard at the earliest and follow it up with signing of an agreement between the varsity and the trust authorities for the improvement and better management of the hostel. It also informs the VC that between 1999 and February 10, 2004, all the hostel's earnings amounting to Rs 48 lakh has already been deposited in the AU accounts.
Meanwhile, member of the AU Executive Council, Sunit Vyas, has written to the AU VC Prof Rajen Harshe, requesting him to ensure that this proposal is included in the agenda of the next Executive Council meet scheduled to be held in October itself.
When contacted, Vyas confirmed the Hindu Hostel Trust's proposal and writing a letter to the VC.
"I believe that this is a great opportunity for the varsity to take control of the biggest students' hostel and prime land that can pave way for the better governance of the hostel as well as improvement of the existing facilities. If the varsity so desires, it can later also construct new hostels on the vacant land," Vyas said.
