NU finally starts long-ending commerce dept

NAGPUR: Finally, Nagpur University officials seem to have developed some sense. After opening a new department and a new course, they've now started the long-awaited post graduate commerce department on the campus on Amravati Road. The new department will function from the humanities department till a new building comes up. "The one and half decade-old demand by many NU veterans has been finally fulfilled," an academician associated with this work said, adding that it will benefit many poor students.
"It will start from this academic year and the MCom course will be conducted.The process of appointing lecturers is underway. Initially, their salaries will be taken care by the Universities' Grants Commission," registrar Mahesh Yenkie confirmed to TOI. The development comes after NU opening its 'molecular biology and genetic engineering department' and also the long-awaited 'MA in mass communication' course at department of mass communication.
Interestingly, the UGC had granted Rs 11 lakh to open the commerce department on the campus since many years. It had even sanctioned three posts of lecturers, including a reader. Interestingly, NU was only among the non-agriculture universities in Maharashtra not to have its commerce department till this year.
The university had constituted a one-man panel under reader with its MBA department Anant Deshmukh to locate the place and point out other formalities. Unfortunately, his appointment was made as late June last year when the academic session had begun. He submitted his report on a positive note, but the entire process took a lot of time and thus NU officials got a ready excuse not to start the department last year.
Even during the tenures of Bhalchandra Chopne and Arun Satputaley, the issue was kept in the cold. It was only during the term of former vice chancellor SN Pathan that the UGC granted funds during its 11th five year plan. Accordingly, the provision was made in the NU budget passed during the senate meeting held in March last year. However, it again developed a roadblock for unknown reasons.
NU officials had cited financial burden for delay in opening the commerce department till last year but sources termed it as a 'mere excuse' since there was no need for the laboratory in this department and even lecturers' salaries had to be borne first by the UGC and then by the state government.