dna special: Parliamentary committee finds irregularities in Nalanda University project; officials pulled up for arbitrary acts and nepotism

Even as prime minister Manmohan Singh announced in Brunei  the signing of MoU with ASEAN countries on the Nalanda University, a parliamentary committee back home has pulled up the university authorities as well as the government for arbitrary acts and gifting plum posts to favourites.  

The MPs also took exception that even before formalising any inter-government agreement or an MoU with ASEAN countries, the ministry of external affairs has unilaterally declared the institution international by signing a headquarter agreement last July with the university authorities.

The agreement, according to norms, is the last stage to declare an institution international, after signing an MoU and an inter-government agreement. The agreement has extended privileges to the university staff retrospectively from the date of commencement of the Act. These include tax exemptions on the fat salaries and privileges.

The parliamentary panel was scrutinising the Nalanda University (Amendment) Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha on the last day of the monsoon session. Among the 24 amendments incorporated in the Bill, the most important is to delink the membership in the Governing Board with donations offered by member countries.

Realising that 13 ASEAN countries who had initially committed to partner the project have almost backtracked, the government has accepted the fact that it had to parent the project singularly, rather than pressing anyone for money.  The project is estimated to cost $1 billion.

Diplomatic sources say  the indifference of the East Asian nations stemmed from the fact that India was using the Nalanda project to level with China. “They want to keep distance from anything that annoys China, which itself has been aggressively pursuing diplomacy using Buddhism,” says an expert associated with the project. Beijing is  pursuing a $3bn worth similar project in Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Further, there are apprehensions within the government here as well that taking large sums from other countries would mean giving up control of the university.

At the parliamentary standing committee meeting, Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Punj raised the issues of astronomical tax free salaries being paid to university authorities and continuing its functioning in New Delhi rather in Rajgir in Bihar. The vice-chancellor Gopa Sabarwal, who was quizzed by the MPs, however, said she had voluntarily relinquished a large part of her salary and was taking just Rs 2 lakh instead Rs 5 lakh per month as sanctioned by the regulations.

Punj pointed out that the university was operating from a rented accommodation at the cost of Rs 10 lakh per month and is headed by a person who had never been a professor and not taught at at post-graduate level.  Further, an unsanctioned post of office on special duty was created and handed over to Dr Anjana Sharma, who has co-authored a book with Gopa Sabharwal.

Further, the existing ‘Nava Nalanda Mahavihara”, an institution under the ministry of culture, in Nalanda established in 1951 to promote ancient Buddhist seat of learning was kept out of the loop by the MEA. “We might see two Nalanda universities — both in Nalanda, under two different ministries — without any connection between the two,” said Punj.

Courses from 2014
The Nalanda university will begin its academic session from 2014, initially offering masters degrees in ecology, environment and historic studies.

The university, which will have seven schools, will offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism, along with social sciences.

The project is estimated to cost $1 billion. According to sources, China has already committed USD one million for the project, Singapore has pledged USD 5-6 million, Australia about one million Australia dollar and all these funds have been committed on voluntary basis.