Guidelines followed in respect of establishment of a Govt.

-
aided General Degree College:

The Education Commissions set up earlier by the State Government

under the Chairmanship of Prof. Bhabatosh Dutta (1984) and Dr.
Ashoke Mitra (1992) emphasized the need for establishment of new
Degree Colleges in a planned manner taking into consideration several
factors like the distance of nearby colleges from proposed location, the
population density, number of feeder schools etc. At the same time,
the importance of consolidation and upgradation of existing colleges
was also duly emphasized in their reports.

Although, a few new colleges are added to the list every year since the
submission of their reports, but there is no denying the fact that the
total number of such colleges we have at present in our State (∼ 450) is
still below the desired level.

In our country, the access to higher education till today hovers around
10% of the population belonging to eligible age group (17-23 years).
Our State is no exception. But the major hurdle in increasing the
access is that the State Governments have limited avenues for
resource mobilization but burdened with ever increasing
responsibilities. In our State, since 1978, the State Government
through introduction of pay-packet scheme, has undertaken the
responsibility of bearing the entire cost towards payment of salary and
other administrative expenses in most of our colleges. In a country like
ours, unless the education is highly subsidized, it will remain beyond
the reach of the majority population. Keeping all these constraints in
view and appreciating the need for increasing the access by a few
more percentage, State Council of Higher Education tries to formulate
guidelines from time to time for establishment of new Degree Colleges
in different parts of the State under pay-packet-scheme of the State
Government.

The number of existing colleges is inadequate, no doubt. But there are

other serious problems like uneven distribution of these colleges within
the State as well as districts or within a region. There are some
colleges which are overcrowded; there are some which do not get
adequate number of students. The percentage of girl students,
especially in science, technology and professional streams is still low.
Similarly, the number of students from SC/ST and Minority
communities is low compared to their share in overall population. If
there is no college in the neighbourhood, many parents cannot send
their wards to distant colleges because of their inability to pay the
travelling expenses. In such cases the poor, especially the girls suffer
most.

In order to identify the gaps, an Education Map has been prepared with
the help of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of
West Bengal. Looking at the Map, one can easily identify the localities
which have no Degree Colleges within a radius of 15-20 kms. If road
and /or rail connectivity is good, the students may commute to far
away colleges. But there are places where it is very difficult and
expensive even to commute a distance of 10 kms. In some other
cases, although there may be a college in the neighbourhood, but it is
overcrowded. The economic condition of the majority of the people of
the locality is also an important factor. Therefore while identifying
gaps, not only the geographical distance but other relevant factors
should also be taken into account. Next important factors are the
population density of the Block/Locality or so called “catchment area’,
the level of social and economic backwardness, the number of Feeder
H.S. Schools and of students passing out every year in Arts/
Science/Commerce streams from these schools. It is also to be noted
whether the number of successful students from these schools is
increasing over the years.

Once the need is thus established, then comes the question, whether
the local people are really interested to have a college in their locality.
People’s involvement is a very important factor for establishment and
running of a college, at least in its formative years. Instead of
depending entirely on the Government, people should come forward
and contribute significantly towards establishment of college through
donations (cash or kind), voluntary labour and through other means.

Considering all these factors and the recent regulations / guidelines of

UGC as well as higher education policy of the State Government,
several criteria have been identified which have to be fulfilled by an
organization applying for establishment of a college under the pay-
packet scheme.

The proposal must be submitted on behalf of an Organizing Committee

formed by a Registered Society (or a Trust Body), one of whose aims
and objectives should be establishment of higher educational
institution. The track record of the Society is also looked into to assess
their organizational capacity, commitment and dedication.

The Society must arrange (i) a suitable piece of land (minimum area of
which will be as per latest regulation of UGC) either purchased or
received as gift which has to be duly registered in the name of the
college prior to issuance of No Objection /consent letter from the Govt.
(ii) a Reserve Fund of at least Rs. 15,00,000/- Corpus Fund per
Programme (to be kept in a Fixed Deposit Account in a Nationalized
/Co-operative Bank for a term not less than five years, as per latest
UGC Regulations), (iii) Operational Fund of at least Rs. 5,00,000/-
(through opening up of a Savings/Current Bank Account in a
Nationalized/ Co-operative Bank) to meet the initial and/or any other
Contingency expenses and (v) sufficient provision (in the form of
written assurances from MP, MLA, local self-governments,
philanthropists and other individuals) for construction of college
building as per relevant regulations of UGC (iv) any other conditions as
stipulated by UGC / concerned university for establishment of a
college.

If all these conditions are satisfied and the State Govt. concurs, field
inspection will be carried out by the Council and recommendations, as
deemed fit, will be communicated to the Government.

To be considered for establishment of a college (both Govt.

aided and self-financing) and to start functioning from a
particular academic session, the proposal may preferably be
submitted by 31st December of the preceding year.

Requirement of Land (for Govt. aided and self-financings):

Sl. Type of Requirement of Land (in

No. College Acres)
Non- Metropolitan
Metropolitan Area
Areas
1. General Degree As per UGC As per UGC
College stipulation stipulation
(Arts, Commerce, 5.0 Acres 2.0 Acres
Science) / Art College
etc.
2. Teacher Training As per NCTE norms As per NCTE
(B.Ed.) College / norms
B.P.Ed. College

3. Law Colleges As per BCI norms As per BCI

norms
Guidelines followed in respect of establishment of a Self-
financing College:

Establishment of self-financing college offering undergraduate education in

traditional subjects in Arts / Science / Commerce streams would normally be
not encouraged except in very special cases e.g., if the proposed location
satisfies several criteria like, economic condition of a sizeable population is
such that a section of the parents can afford to pay necessary fee but there
are not sufficient number of colleges in the neighbourhood.

However, if such colleges propose to offer education in emerging /

interdisciplinary areas where sufficient opening is not available for the
students in neighbouring Govt. or Govt. aided colleges, the proposal may be
considered subject to fulfillment of the conditions laid down for establishment
of self-financing colleges.

The proposal must be submitted on behalf of an Organizing Committee

formed by a Registered Society (or a Trust Body), one of whose aims and
objectives should be establishment of higher educational institution. The
track record of the Society is also looked into to assess their organizational
capacity, commitment and dedication.

The Society must arrange (i) a suitable piece of land (minimum area of which
will be as per UGC norms) either purchased or received as gift which has to
be duly registered in the name of the college prior to issuance of No
Objection /consent letter from the Govt. (ii) a Reserve Fund of at least Rs.
10,00,000/- (kept in a Fixed Deposit Account in a Nationalized /Co-operative
Bank for a term not less than five years), (iii) Corpus Fund as per latest
regulations of UGC (iv) Operational Fund of at least Rs. 10,00,000/- (through
opening up of a Savings/Current Bank Account in a Nationalized/ Co-operative
Bank) to meet the initial and/or any other Contingency expenses and (v)
provision for sufficient fund to construct the college building and associated
infrastructure like library, laboratory etc. as per relevant regulations of UGC
(vi) any other conditions as stipulated by UGC / concerned university for
establishment of a college.

In addition, the Organizing Committee have to give undertaking that if NOC is

issued then (i) the qualification and remuneration of the Principal and
teachers appointed on whole-time (regular or on contract) / part-time basis or
as guest lecturers should be as per UGC / State Govt. norms.

(ii) The Selection Committee will be formed according to the guidelines of the
Affiliating University

(iii) Fee structure will be as per guidelines of the State Govt./ Council/
Affiliating University.

(iv) Will follow all relevant regulations of the UGC / State Govt. / Affiliating
University and any other concerned regulatory body.
If all these conditions are satisfied and the State Govt. concurs, field
inspection will be carried out by the Council and recommendations, as
deemed fit will be communicated to the Government.

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