NOTES 47 plications for an institution like the JNU. Rao had also stated at the inauguration that, the future of the University will be largely determined by what happens or does not happen during its first initial and formative years. In the light of the last four years of its working, we can now review the working of this "model" institution. Relevance of JNU to the Educational System The claim of the creators of JNU is that it can be a model for excellence and will provide a breakthrough in higher education. The attempt to build up "centre of excellence55 is bound to be farcical, given the realities of the present educational and social framework in which JNU functions. When the poverty-stricken millions in India are unable to get even basic amenities for school and undergraduate education, the imposition of such centres from the top will only degenerate into creating elitist sanctuaries for the upper classes. When the overwhelming majority of college students in India are trained in a rotten educational system, the concept of post-graduate centres of higher learning like JNU deduces itself to a mockery. Operating within such a framework the JNU is well on the road to becoming a luxury which only a privileged few can afford under the garb of academic quality. Finances G Parthasarathy, the Vice Chancellor, in his report presented at the first Convocation, outlined some of the basic principles for structuring of the University : "In planning the work of the University, we are anxious to avoid duplication and overlapping—costly luxuries which a poor country like ours cannot afford.55 The University had been allocated Rs 6.5 crores for development and maintenance during the Fourth Plan period. A cursory glance at the budget estimates and actual expenditure incurred by the University during the last four years would reveal that there has been a steep increase under administrative and non-academic heads of expenditure. Surprisingly, out of the funds of the University, the budget allocation for scholarships for 1971-72 was only Rs 1.95 lakhs. Even out of such a low sum only Rs 1.10 lakhs were spent. While some poor students had to leave the University and several other needy students had to suffer on the Campus, the funds earmarked for scholarships were not fully utilised. This explains how the University^ professed aim of attracting students from the "weaker sections of society55 is being implemented. The students of JNU are not interested in claiming more privileges and resources for themselves overriding the claims of students from other universities. However, they have made the legitimate demand that the existing resources made available to JNU be more equitably allocated. The Students Union has raised the question of allocation of available resources for better utilisation keeping in view the national financial strm-