Lessons in Non permanent Sheds, No Common College, and Academics Paid Simply Rs 500 per class

It was solely by January this yr, as the federal government seeks a fourth time period, that these universities, barring Darjeeling Hill College, bought statutory recognition, or the authorized authority to award levels.

The Indian Specific visited the 11 universities and located that seven proceed to operate out of non permanent premises, none have everlasting college, and most depend upon visitor lecturers working on the UGC-mandated price of Rs 500 per class. In lots of universities, the coed power has been declining.

Presently, round 17,000 college students are enrolled throughout eight of those universities, with three not sharing their precise numbers.

The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC authorities has been on the again foot over the state of training at numerous ranges in Bengal, with the BJP gunning for it over scams involving the recruitment of lecturers, during which senior TMC leaders are embroiled. Within the case of universities, appointments have been stalled between 2023 and 2024 as a result of a tussle between the then Governor, C V Ananda Bose, the ex officio Chancellor of all state-aided universities, and the CM, who has the authority to finalise the appointments.

On July 8, 2024, the Supreme Courtroom constituted a committee to interrupt the stalemate. Since then, V-C posts have been crammed and statutory standing granted.

For 2025-2026, in its final full Finances, the TMC authorities allotted 14.8% of funds to training, near the nationwide common. However this was training’s lowest share within the whole state funds since 2023-24.

Repeated calls and messages to Schooling Minister Bratya Basu and Further Chief Secretary, Increased Schooling, Binod Kumar, went unanswered.

Universities with out a campus

Dakshin Dinajpur College. (Specific photograph by Partha Paul)

Dakshin Dinajpur College, Balurghat: Began functioning in October 2021; 250 college students

Banerjee introduced the institution of the college on February 21, 2018, assembly a long-standing native demand. On the time, the closest college to the district was almost 200 km away.

Dakshin Dinajpur College held its first educational session in October 2021. It initially operated from a rented personal residence in Balurghat when courses have been on-line as a result of Covid. After the college resumed, courses have been held at Balurghat School, then shifted to a hostel constructing at Balurghat Mahila Mahavidyalaya, and, in August 2024, to a girls’s hostel at Balurghat B.Ed School.

The college presents three postgraduate programs: English, Political Science, and Maths. Within the first yr of admissions (2021), 136 college students enrolled, of whom 39 dropped out. In 2022, 105 college students bought admission, however 69 left. In 2023, 133 took admissions, however 92 dropped out. In 2025, solely 105 college students took admission, leaving about 250 college students on its rolls.

There are not any everlasting college or employees, solely 21 visitor lecturers, who educate in six makeshift school rooms.

About 2 km away lies an 11.07-acre plot earmarked for a everlasting campus. Cows graze on the vacant land.

Manmatha Kar and Raju Paul, each visitor lecturers at Dakshin Dinajpur College, say the pinch is being felt now. “We do not need a everlasting handle; how will a college run?” says workplace employees Sudipto Majumder. In regards to the land put aside for development, Majumder says: “The state authorities spent Rs 2.5 crore to construct only a wall. Then the funds dried up. In 2022, a constructing plan was finalised by the state authorities. The V-C has written many occasions… We’ve got but to listen to something on the problem.”

Native MLA and Client Affairs Minister Biplab Mitra says, “Work on the college bought delayed as a result of the Governor stalled V-C appointment and statutory approval for the college. The Central authorities compelled the Governor (to take action).”

Harichand Guruchand College. (Specific photograph by Partha Paul)

Harichand Guruchand College, Thakurnagar: Began functioning in January 2021; 168 college students

The TMC authorities introduced a college named after Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur of the Matua group in November 2018. The varsity was seen as Banerjee’s try to carry on to the Matua vote financial institution that moved to the BJP within the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The closest college to Thakurnagar on the time was about 60 km away.

It began functioning in January 2021 with the appointment of a V-C and now presents 4 topics on the PG degree: Bengali, Schooling, Historical past, and Journalism and Mass Communication.

Lessons for Bengali and Schooling are held in a neighbouring authorities faculty, whereas Journalism and Mass Communication are taught at a university.

Aside from the V-C, there are not any everlasting college members. Round 35-40 visitor college maintain courses. Pointing to the shortage of infrastructure, a visitor historical past instructor, Milan Roy, says he comes as soon as per week.

A Mass Communication scholar, Gourav Chowdhury, says: “Our lecturers are honest, however the college has no infrastructure for experiments or a library. We’re managing someway.”

Within the first batch, 132 college students took admission in 2021. Earlier than the ultimate semester, 32 dropped out. In 2022, 124 college students took admission, however 14 left. In 2023, solely 57 took admission, of whom 15 left. In 2024, the numbers rose to 86 admissions, whereas in 2025, there was a drop to 82.

V-C Nemai Chandra Saha says: “7.66 acres of land has been recognized for the campus, plus one other plot recognized for a second campus. We’re engaged on it.”

Hindi College

Hindi College, Howrah: Began functioning in January 2020, 133 college students

Banerjee laid the inspiration stone for the college, with a concentrate on greater training in Hindi and associated languages, in March 2019, and it started operations in January 2020.

Lessons have been initially held at Narasingha Dutta School, with the college later shifting to an deserted Howrah Municipal Company constructing. A brand new constructing for the college is prepared in Baltikuri in Howrah, however it’s but to shift there.

Hindi College presents 4 PG programs – Hindi, Translation Research, Political Science and Historical past – and has 133 college students.

Suman Bhattacharya, a retired ­Schooling Division officer who works because the Registrar, says, “All of the employees are contractual other than the V-C. There are eight school rooms, a small library and a small seminar corridor.”

Bhattacharya says he doesn’t know why the college just isn’t shifting to the brand new premises. However he can hazard a guess: “The annual upkeep price can be Rs 2 crore. Who can pay the cash?”

V-C Nandini Sahu admits there are constraints. “The brand new constructing has no furnishings and no safety. Up to now yr, I’ve written not less than 10 occasions to the Increased Schooling Division. Nothing has occurred.”

“We simply bought our statutory standing. We’re planning to recruit everlasting employees and school now,” Sahu provides.

TMC Hindi Cell Bengal chief and Jorasanko MLA Vivek Gupta blames the Centre: “Their Governor didn’t appoint the V-C for a very long time, and didn’t approve the statute. With out these, a college can’t develop.”

Darjeeling Hill College,

Darjeeling Hill College, Jogighat: Began in October 2021, round 80 college students

The primary college for Bengal’s hill space, a fierce battleground between the TMC and BJP, Darjeeling Hill College’s basis stone was laid by the CM in September 2018. A signboard says the Section 1 development, with an authorized quantity of Rs 33.44 crore, commenced on October 5, 2021.

Greater than 4 years later, all that stands are a dilapidated gate and basis work for the educational and administration constructing. The employees say the college began functioning in 2021 from the North Bengal College Campus, about 60 km away, moved on-line throughout Covid, and is now housed on the premises of the Industrial Coaching Institute, Bhasmey.

The college presents PG in English, Nepali, Historical past, Political Science, Arithmetic and Mass Communication.

In 2021, Darjeeling Hill College noticed 169 admissions, of whom 25 left. In 2022, 110 took admission, however 50 dropped out. These two years, courses have been held on-line. In 2023, no scholar was admitted. In 2024, 41 college students have been admitted, however 22 left. In 2025, the variety of admissions elevated to 60.

There are 72 visitor lecturers. Aside from V-C Tejmala Gurung, nobody is everlasting.

Susma Rai, one of many workplace staff, says that three of them handle ­college work, together with cleansing. “Our V-C madam could be very enthusiastic, and we’re all making an attempt our greatest to run this college ­as a result of it’s the first within the hill area,” Rai says.

Rani Rashmoni Inexperienced College

Rani Rashmoni Inexperienced College, Singur: Began in 2020, “round 200 college students”

Its location holds political significance as Singur in Hooghly district helped catapult the Banerjee-led TMC to energy. Known as Singur College when it was introduced in 2017, it was renamed a yr later after philanthropist Rani Rashmoni.

In 2020, it started its educational yr by providing two undergraduate topics: Chemistry and Environmental Science. Now it presents 14, together with an MBA and a PG diploma, and has about 200 college students. However the college continues to run from the premises of the Authorities Normal Diploma School in Singur. A room partitioned by plywood homes three school rooms.

V-C Amiya Kumar Panda says the college has been allotted 7 acres at Baliguri in Singur-Kamarkundu space, with Rs 144 crore sanctioned for a brand new campus. The land enclosed by a big gate stands barren, with heaps of sand and rusted iron beams mendacity round. Panda says the work has stalled as a result of a young downside. “The contractor might be modified.”

Panda can also be hopeful of getting everlasting employees for the college quickly, saying they have been within the means of making use of to the federal government. Presently, the college has 85-100 visitor lecturers, none of them everlasting.

Kanyashree College

Kanyashree College, Nadia: Began in 2020, “round 1,000 college students”

The college is the one one solely for women among the many 11 began by the state authorities, and its basis was laid by the CM in 2019. However 5 years after it began functioning, in 2020, courses proceed to be held in one of many buildings of Krishnanagar Collegiate College.

The Indian Specific group was not allowed into the constructing. Registrar Krishnandu Rakshit didn’t reply to queries in regards to the ­college.

The web site of Kanyashree College says it has 11 departments providing PG programs, “round a thousand” college students and “greater than 100” college members. All college work on a short lived foundation.

Lady college students say that regardless of it being a college for them, there isn’t any hostel as there isn’t any devoted campus. Ritu Biswas, 24, who’s within the first semester of her regulation course, says she lives in Barrackpore and travels 100 km to review.

Mahatma Gandhi College

Mahatma Gandhi College, Mahishadal: Began in 2020, “round 200 college students”

An Act to arrange Purba Medinipur College was handed by the Meeting in 2017, and the title was modified to Mahatma Gandhi College the following yr.

Its educational journey began in 2020 with PG supplied in two topics, Bengali and Historical past. In 2021, Arithmetic and English have been launched, additionally providing PG.

Presently, courses are run from two flooring of the annexe constructing of Mahishadal School.

In 2018, 25 acres of land within the Kapas space, round 5 km away, was allotted. The preliminary Rs 25 crore, say officers, was used to make boundary partitions. Then, development stopped.

V-C Sourangshu Mukhopadhyay, who took over lately, says: “We plan to introduce programs like Philosophy, particularly Gandhian Philosophy… However for all this, we should always have our personal campus.”

One other downside, the V-C says, isn’t any everlasting college or employees. “Solely lately did the Governor approve statutory standing for us. Now we’re making ready to rent seven common professors in every division,” Mukhopadhyay says.

A visitor instructor, Shankar Ram Burman, says the shortage of school rooms prevents any future planning.

Mukhopadhyay factors to at least one ray of hope. “In all different new universities, scholar power is on the decline. However right here our college students, although very small in quantity, are rising yr on yr.”

The college noticed 128 admissions in 2025, in comparison with 84 in 2024.

Universities with a campus

Sadhu Ramchand Murmu College, Jhargram: Began in 2021; 1,500 college students

The Act for the college was handed in 2018, and courses began in 2021. It now presents 18 topics, of which 13 are full-fledged PG programs, and 5 are diploma programmes.

Initially, it functioned from Jhargram Mahila School, with 1,500 college students on its rolls. In 2022, Sadhu Ramchand Murmu College shifted to its personal campus, unfold over 27 acres, with a playground and a seminar corridor. The clearances have been apparently smoother right here since no aspect needed to be seen as obstructing improvement in a tribal space.

V-C Chandradipa Ghosh says the campus features a ladies’ hostel with lodging for 25, greater than 30 school rooms, an administrative constructing and an educational constructing. “We’ve got 35-40 visitor lecturers and 12-14 informal workplace employees.”

Pranab Mondol, a scholar of Music and Performing Arts, says: “It’s a new college, so we don’t have many issues. However we’re proud of the training course of. What we want is correct library help.”

Bengal Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda, who’s the MLA from Jhargram, calls the college successful story. “As extra topics are launched, increasingly college students are taking admission.”

Biswa Bangla College, Bolpur: Began in 2021; 992 college students

The college in Birbhum district has a powerful campus, constructed by the identical architectural agency that helped design JNU in Delhi. It has 85 school rooms throughout three separate buildings for Humanities, Social Sciences and Science.

Nevertheless, there are solely 992 college students on the rolls. The college now presents PG programmes in all 19 of its departments, however there isn’t any everlasting college. It has 58 visitor lecturers and 33 informal workplace employees.

Abu Taleb Khan, a former professor of IIT-Guwahati who took over as V-C in ­February, says, “Nothing was handed all the way down to me by the previous V-C… We are going to shortly promote for college, as we now have ­statutory powers.”

College sources say 60 college students took admission in 2020, which jumped to 199 in 2021. Numbers went up the following three years, to 177 in 2022, 265 in 2023, 544 in 2024, earlier than taking a slight dip to 448 in 2024.

Suman Saha, Deputy Controller of Examinations and a college member within the Historical past division, says, “We’ve got sufficient infrastructure, sufficient sources, however we don’t have a correct marketing campaign to usher in college students.”

V-C Khan agrees. “I’ve seen how IITs promote with correct campaigns. That didn’t occur for this college.”

TMC Bolpur MLA Chandranath Sinha says, “We’re giving precedence now to career-oriented Grasp’s levels. We hope it will entice college students.”

Schools that turned universities

Alipurduar College, Alipurduar: Began in 2020; 9,000 college students

Alipurduar School, established in 1957, turned Alipurduar College following an Act in 2018 and began functioning two years later. It has greater than 6,000 college students in its undergraduate programs, and about 3,000 within the 14 postgraduate topics.

Round 71 lecturers who labored on the faculty have been absorbed into the college. The college additionally has 23 contractual workplace employees and round 30 visiting lecturers, and is utilizing the prevailing faculty infrastructure.

Whereas there’s a new ladies’ hostel now, an educational constructing and a V-C’s residence are deliberate.

V-C Sarit Kumar Chowdhury says the truth that the college was carved out of a school meant “we bought ready-made infrastructure, particularly science laboratories”. Including that extra was wanted for a college, he says that now that they’ve statutory powers, they may push forward with it. “We are going to now have everlasting posts, and can recruit common professors.”

Maharaja Krishnanath College, Murshidabad: Began in 2021; 3,400 college students

Maharaja Krishnanath School was certainly one of Bengal’s oldest faculties, inbuilt 1853 and modelled after Christ School of Britain. This was changed into Murshidabad College underneath an Act handed by the Meeting in 2018. The college formally began operations in 2021.

On February 9 this yr, the state authorities modified its title to Maharaja Krishnanath, after a Nineteenth-century zamindar and philanthropist.

Whereas there are round 2,500 college students in UG, 900-odd are enrolled for PG. Whereas the workplace employees and lecturers have been additionally absorbed, the college doesn’t have any everlasting posts but, excluding V-C Jane Alam.

Alam says of the 50 school rooms, 15 are underneath renovation. On what had modified for the reason that faculty turned a college, Alam says: “It’s a nice benefit that this college is developing in a heritage faculty which is already well-known and has a robust alumni community. What we’ve got to do is to develop and renovate its infrastructure.”