Dharwad: Karnataka University vice-chancellor Pramod Gai claimed that the university, which had a deficit of Rs 8 crore when he took charge three-and-a-half years ago, is now having a surplus of Rs 62 crore. He attributed this to efficient management of available funds.Speaking to reporters here, Gai said the financial condition of the varsity was precarious when he took over as the vice-chancellor and the pensioners were facing problem as they were not getting their pension since the past eight months. The VC said soon after taking over he had taken steps to create a separate pension fund and ensure that all the pensioners got the monthly pension on the last day of that particular month.Gai said the government had not permitted filling up of teaching and non-teaching posts in the university and this had hampered the work. To overcome the shortage of staff, the varsity is forced to hire guest lecturers and non-teaching staff on temporary basis. As many as 289 teaching posts and 813 non-teaching posts have fallen vacant since due to retirement, death and resignation, he said.The V-C explained that as per the government orders, the varsity had distributed 700 laptops free of cost to the SC/ST students who were doing PhD and final year PG Course. This year too, the varsity has placed order for 500 laptops which will be distributed to the students by the end of March, he said.For the benefit of the candidates, the KUD has started coaching for KSET and NET examinations. To encourage young researchers, the varsity has created a research fund and has mobilised funds to the tune of Rs 40 lakh. Under this project, young researchers will be given financial assistance up to Rs2 lakh for their research work. However, the research work should be based only on regional issues.Under the Pavate-Cambridge Fellowship programme, every year the varsity is sending three students to the Cambridge University for higher learning for a period of four months. On the academic front, the varsity has got NAAC five star status and the H index (publication) of the varsity is 74, which is the highest in the state, he informed. To improve academic standards, the varsity has signed MoU with premier institutes in India and abroad. Every year scores of students and faculty are sent to other institutes under the knowledge exchange programme, he added.Five villages to be adoptedThe vice-chancellor said Karnataka University has been selected under the Unnat Bharath Abhiyaan and five villages namely Dhummawad, Pudakalkatti, Gudgeri, Shiraguppi and Byalal villages in Dharwad district will be adopted by the varsity for socio-economic improvement under the scheme.A cell has been set up and nodal officer appointed to study the life of the people and prepare programmes for rural development.

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