Though Mumbai University received sports funding of more than Rs 2.29 crore, its utilised only Rs 30.88 lakh on sporting activities in 2009-2010.
The figures have been revealed in the university’s budget estimates which will be discussed in the senate meeting on March 18. The senate is a governing body of the university.
The underutilisation of funds shows the low importance the institution gives to sports, said academicians. The sports fund is collected from students across the 655 colleges in the university. About 15 % (Rs 30) of every student’s gymkhana fees is given to the university for sports. The rest goes to their respective colleges. The funds are used for inter-college and intra-university tournaments, coaching camps, equipment, uniforms and other allowances.
“The university refuses to spend money on sports. We have coaches who have not even played at the state level training university teams. If they have the funds, there are lots of ways to improve facilities. On university tours, students are not even provided with track suits or a good sporting shoes,” said a sports director of one of the city’s top sporting colleges.
The university holds 60 to 70 tournaments in 35 sports every year, but colleges host several of them from their own funds and the university does not pay for them. “The university tournaments are not organised in the way they should be. Many times colleges bear the expenses of these tournaments,” said Ramrao More, sports director, St. Andrew’s College.
{{/usCountry}}The university holds 60 to 70 tournaments in 35 sports every year, but colleges host several of them from their own funds and the university does not pay for them. “The university tournaments are not organised in the way they should be. Many times colleges bear the expenses of these tournaments,” said Ramrao More, sports director, St. Andrew’s College.
{{/usCountry}}Two years ago, a football tournament was held in Ambernath but teams were not provided any transport or even drinking water, said a student who is part of a college football team.
University officials said that colleges are defaulters and don’t contribute to the sports fund in time. “With colleges defaulting for more than five years, we can’t allocate all funds in the beginning. We are renovating the university grounds in Marine Lines, but it is not very fast,” said Uttam Kendre, director of sports, Mumbai University.
Dinesh Panjwani, principal of RD National College said, “It is the responsibility of the university to ensure that defaulting colleges pay up. If the university does not have enough sports programme to spend on then the money should be reverted to colleges.”
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