MHRD IPR Chair Series: Information Received from Tezpur University
This post provides a factual description about the operation of Ministry of Human Resource Development IPR Chair’s Intellectual Property Education, Research and Public Outreach (IPERPO) scheme in Tezpur University. The author has analysed all the data received under various heads such as income, grants from MHRD, planned and non planned expenditure, nature and frequency of programmes organised and the allocation of funds for the same.
Throughout the course of observation and presentation of the analysed data, the author seeks to trace the presence of unjustified underutilisation of funds by the aforementioned university as provided by the MHRD during the period 2013-2014.
To collect the information for the given study, an RTI application was filed to the Tezpur University on 16/01/2015 by the Centre for Internet and Society. The reply to RTI application was received on 05/02/2015. These are the documents received by CIS from Tezpur University:
For RTI Response click here (Tezpur Receipt of RTI). Also see Tezpur Forwarded Response
For complete supporting documents see (Tezpur- Annual Report, Financial Statement, Report on IPR Cell)
Hereinafter, in order to receive any information about Tezpur University’s RTI reply, kindly refer to the above mentioned links. Following are the queries mentioned in the RTI application along with their replies.
Reply: Tezpur University has submitted detailed documents for the period 2013-2014 in order to highlight various activities undertaken by the University to implement the IPERPO scheme. This information is sent to CIS through summary documents, notices and newsletters.
2. Documents detailing the release of grants to the MHRD IPR Chairs under the IPERPO Scheme
Reply: The University received a grant of Rs.25,00,000 from MHRD under the IPERPO scheme for the period 2013-2014.
3. Documents relating to receipts of utilisation certificates and audited expenditure statements and matters related to all financial sanctions with regard to funds granted to the MHRD IPR Chair established under the IPERPO scheme at Tezpur University
Reply: The University has submitted the utilisation certificate for the period 2013-2014 along with the expenditure statement.
4. Documents regarding all matters pertaining to finance and budget related the MHRD IPR Chair under the IPERPOs scheme established at Tezpur University
Reply: As per the documents submitted to CIS, the proposed budget for the period 2013-2014 is not submitted by the University. However, the budget for the period 2014-2015 is submitted and the sum of Rs. 49,79,231 is proposed by the University.
2.0 Comparative Analysis between University Response and the guidelines of MHRD Scheme Document
The Scheme Document of MHRD (http://copyright.gov.in/Documents/scheme.pdf) is a comprehensive document which consists of guidelines regarding Intellectual Property Education, Research and Public Outreach. It talks about a list of objectives, purposes, conditions and eligibility criteria for a University to ensure in order to implement IPERPO in a truest sense. This document provides the procedural as well as qualifying conditions for an Institute to ensure or fulfil before applying for the MHRD grant. Some of these conditions include maintenance of utilization certificates, audit reports, expenditure statements and event information which would be open to access on demand by MDHR or Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
In order to fulfil the objectives mentioned in the scheme document, Tezpur University undertook following activities:
- Conducted courses in the mainstream undergraduate, post graduate and PhD programmes
- Facilitated assessment and IPR filings of university innovations
- Field work on Geographical Indication: Muga Silk of Assam
- Training of IPR Officers
- Outreach programmes at Dilbrugarh University and Silchar
- Colloquium on Contemporary Physics and the Role of IPR
- Training programmes on traditional knowledge and communication with stakeholders
Tezpur University is recognized by the University Grants Commission. Therefore, it fulfils the eligibility criteria mentioned in the scheme document.
3.0 Financial Analysis
Tezpur University received grants in two instalments for the same financial year (2013-2014). The first instalment was sanctioned on 19th August 2013 and the second instalment was sanctioned on 26th March 2014.
Financial Year 2013-2014
In this financial year a total grant of Rs. 33,00,000 was sanctioned to the University in two instalments of Rs. 25,00,000 and Rs. 8,00,000. Out of this, a total sum of Rs. 35,24,446 was utilised by the University.
It is clear from the above drawn chart that the maximum amount of money was spent on the salaries of Chair Professor and his staff.
Author
