Pakistan Didn't Pay a Penny for South Asia University; India Stops Midway

[thesolar65]

NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary standing committee on external affairs has asked the ministry to “pursue” Pakistan’s failure to contribute a single penny towards the running of South Asian University since its inception. The agreed formula was that India would contribute 51.8 per cent towards the operational costs, with Pakistan having the next highest share at 11.83 per cent.

Pakistan has the unique distinction among all SAARC members of never paying its contribution ever for the University. Starting from 2010, Pakistan owes a grand total of $7.8 million (Rs 49.5 crore) towards the project.

The external affairs ministry standing committee, specifically asked the ministry to pursue the matter of Pakistan’s non-contribution “at the SAARC forum and emphasize the need for timely contribution by each of the member states”.

In the first two years of 2010 and 2011, India promptly paid up its dues which were $756,000 (`4.7 crore) and $3 million (`19 crore), respectively. The problem started from 2012, when India paid its dues but fell short of $193.566 (`1.2 crore). The figures furnished by the MEA to the committee show that in 2013, India failed to pay the entire amount of $10.19 million (`64.6 crore). The quantum for contributions received this year also remains zero for India, so far. It has to contribute an enhanced amount of $14.3 million (`90.7 crore) in 2014. India has been facing a deficit problem for the last 2-3 years which have seen cuts across ministries. The ministry told the panel that the enhanced allocation towards the university will be not just towards the commencement of the construction, but also towards its share of operational contribution.

Besides India and Pakistan, the only other country who has not paid their contribution for 2013 and 2014 is Maldives. Afghanistan, the poorest country in South Asia, has dutifully given its contribution for last four years – but has yet to send its allocation for 2014. All the other SAARC members, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka have made their payments.

The new timeline for setting up the campus is 2017. The cost of the construction has been revised to `334 crore from the initial `204.2 crore. MEA reiterated that “government is committed to bear 100 per cent capital costs towards the establishment of the university”.

Pakistan Didn't Pay a Penny for South Asia University; India Stops Midway -The New Indian Express

@Armstrong @SarthakGanguly @scorpionx @Guynextdoor2 @ranjeet @jarves @levina @Spring Onion @BDforever @DRAY

 

[dil_dil]

Its pointless to pay for anything which is being build in India. Only few months ago single Pakistani student was beaten to death in Indian university.

 

[coffee_cup]

WTH is this SAARC anyway?

Its a useless regional cigar club, nothing else.

I say disband it.

 

[Kompromat]

We are not interested,

 

[root]

What is purpose of opening this university?

 

[Rafi]

A colossal fckin waste of time and money.

 

[thegametheorist]

I was looking at pursuing a course on international relations from this university. I was particularly interested in getting into a class from different cultural and religious background. I think India should take the lead being the biggest economy in the region. Even if Pakistan does not pay, it does not matter. The university is in New Delhi and the university can become a centre for independent research on strategic studies.

 

[bongbang]

NEW DELHI: The Parliamentary standing committee on external affairs has asked the ministry to “pursue” Pakistan’s failure to contribute a single penny towards the running of South Asian University since its inception. The agreed formula was that India would contribute 51.8 per cent towards the operational costs, with Pakistan having the next highest share at 11.83 per cent.

Pakistan has the unique distinction among all SAARC members of never paying its contribution ever for the University. Starting from 2010, Pakistan owes a grand total of $7.8 million (Rs 49.5 crore) towards the project.

The external affairs ministry standing committee, specifically asked the ministry to pursue the matter of Pakistan’s non-contribution “at the SAARC forum and emphasize the need for timely contribution by each of the member states”.

In the first two years of 2010 and 2011, India promptly paid up its dues which were $756,000 (`4.7 crore) and $3 million (`19 crore), respectively. The problem started from 2012, when India paid its dues but fell short of $193.566 (`1.2 crore). The figures furnished by the MEA to the committee show that in 2013, India failed to pay the entire amount of $10.19 million (`64.6 crore). The quantum for contributions received this year also remains zero for India, so far. It has to contribute an enhanced amount of $14.3 million (`90.7 crore) in 2014. India has been facing a deficit problem for the last 2-3 years which have seen cuts across ministries. The ministry told the panel that the enhanced allocation towards the university will be not just towards the commencement of the construction, but also towards its share of operational contribution.

Besides India and Pakistan, the only other country who has not paid their contribution for 2013 and 2014 is Maldives. Afghanistan, the poorest country in South Asia, has dutifully given its contribution for last four years – but has yet to send its allocation for 2014. All the other SAARC members, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka have made their payments.

The new timeline for setting up the campus is 2017. The cost of the construction has been revised to `334 crore from the initial `204.2 crore. MEA reiterated that “government is committed to bear 100 per cent capital costs towards the establishment of the university”.

Pakistan Didn't Pay a Penny for South Asia University; India Stops Midway -The New Indian Express

@Armstrong @SarthakGanguly @scorpionx @Guynextdoor2 @ranjeet @jarves @levina @Spring Onion @BDforever @DRAY

Where is the campus?

 

[Mutakalim]

we are simply not interested in doing anything with india.

 

[asquare]

Where is the campus?

The campus is being constructed right now in Delhi. They are functioning out of a temporary campus. The university isn't functioning well at all, partly because the Indian government has mismanaged it and partly because it's hard to run something when you require consensus form seven countries.

In my discipline, economics, they have very, very mediocre faculty. The faculty have also been fighting each other- the last Dean of economics had a public spat with the Vice Chancellor. He also accused one other faculty member of taking sexual favours from students. This is all quite sad because it pays better than other Indian universities and could attract good faculty from all over South Asia. They need to hire good faculty and give them autonomy to run the place. Unfortunately, like I said, the Indian government has done a bad job so far. Things are likely to change under this government though. They will probably see this as a 'prestige' project.

 

[Foggy_Bottom]

We are not interested,

Horus, I'm going to hold you to your promise you made that the new generation = new way of thinking.

This university could be the hotbed of great interaction between students and academia from each of the countries, coming together to promote great cultural bonds. Where students would get to experience an education that would introduce them to the various member countries rich culture and history.

You would see students from all over the world joining this university and not just from the region. Imagine having that level of cultural exchange. Education of this sorts is a beautiful thing. Don't let the poison of bias blind you.


.

 

[asquare]

CAN U EXPLAIN WAT DO U MEAN by PRESTIGE

I mean that this government will see it as a project that is vital for India's image in South Asia (and the wider world). Education diplomacy has worked to some extent in India, Afghan students get places at Indian universities (either based on a quota/concessional admission requirements) and that has increased contact between the two countries to a large extent. There are even the beginnings of a Afghan neighbourhood in a place called Lajpat Nagar in Delhi. Modi would like to extend this sort of contact with the other SAARC countries. It helps to project soft power and increase cross-cultural understanding. For this, he needs the university to stop being a dump.

 

[bongbang]

The campus is being constructed right now in Delhi. They are functioning out of a temporary campus. The university isn't functioning well at all, partly because the Indian government has mismanaged it and partly because it's hard to run something when you require consensus form seven countries.

In my discipline, economics, they have very, very mediocre faculty. The faculty have also been fighting each other- the last Dean of economics had a public spat with the Vice Chancellor. He also accused one other faculty member of taking sexual favours from students. This is all quite sad because it pays better than other Indian universities and could attract good faculty from all over South Asia. They need to hire good faculty and give them autonomy to run the place. Unfortunately, like I said, the Indian government has done a bad job so far. Things are likely to change under this government though. They will probably see this as a 'prestige' project.

They could set up this in BD. Which is a neutral place.Chittagong is a good place. Bangladesh have international universities like Asian Women University and OIC Islamic University

Horus, I'm going to hold you to your promise you made that the new generation = new way of thinking.

This university could be the hotbed of great interaction between students and academia from each of the countries, coming together to promote great cultural bonds. Where students would get to experience an education that would introduce them to the various member countries rich culture and history.

You would see students from all over the world joining this university and not just from the region. Imagine having that level of cultural exchange. Education of this sorts is a beautiful thing. Don't let the poison of bias blind you.


.

University is in the wrong place.

 

[dil_dil]

Horus, I'm going to hold you to your promise you made that the new generation = new way of thinking.

This university could be the hotbed of great interaction between students and academia from each of the countries, coming together to promote great cultural bonds. Where students would get to experience an education that would introduce them to the various member countries rich culture and history.

You would see students from all over the world joining this university and not just from the region. Imagine having that level of cultural exchange. Education of this sorts is a beautiful thing. Don't let the poison of bias blind you.


.

Problem is Indians hatred for Pakistanis put even normal citizens life in danger. We are not talking about RSS type Indians but everyday Indian who will not think twice before killing Pakistani civilian.

University should have been in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.

 

[mike2000]

WTH is this SAARC anyway?

Its a useless regional cigar club, nothing else.

I say disband it.

Ahahahah..... I have been saying the same thing on here for a while now. This thing(just like south Asia in general ) is a huge joke. They should join ASEAN or east Asian vibrant blocs.