Students pay for the services which MKCL never provided

By Vikas Vaidya

“Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, according to sources has come to conclusion that it was facing problems since software from the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) was procured.”

“After facing so many problems because of the technical systems developed by MKCL, senate members of Mumbai University protested and the authorities have to say that Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) – entrusted with some responsibilities – to ensure error-free work this time, failing which its contract would be reviewed.”

“In Kolhapur University people have demanded to cancel the contract with MKCL.”

These are examples of some universities which have made agreement with Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) and students did not get the services supposed to be given. On the same lines Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University also faced same problems. It did not distribute the degrees of around one lakh students, thanks to MKCL. University has collected money from students and deposited in the account of E-Suvidha of MKCL but the company did not give any service. Students paid for the services which they never got.
Adv Manmohan Bajpayee, Senate Member has raised this issue in recently concluded Senate. Some people are raising the issue pointing out that the payment to the tune of Rs 5 crore of MKCL is pending with the University. Sources said that very small part of the payment is related to the work done by MKCL, rest is only the fees-- Rs 50 charged per students.
Dr Murlidhar Chandekar, Pro-Vice Chancellor while replying to this issue said, “As per the State Government directives, a separate account has been created for E-Suvidha of MKCL wherein Rs 7 crore have been deposited. We havent spent a single penny from it nor we have paid to MKCL because though MKCL has submitted the bills, earlier CoE had asked them to furnish the details of the services provided by them and MKCL did not give them.”
To decide about the payment part a committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr Chandekar which will study what services MKCL had given and how much payment supposed to be given.
A Government Resolution (GR) was issued in the year 2006 through which Government has made avilability of E-Suvidha to all students compulsory to all the universities. Gradually the then Government brought MKCL into the picture. With all other universities, RTMNU too signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MKCL. The affidavit duly signed by Vivek Sawant, MD of MKCL and the then Registrar of RTMNU Subhash Belsare available with The Hitavada clearly says that
MKCL was supposed to provide 14 administrative and facilitation services. The services included mainly providing admit cards, examination result processing, marksheet, degree certificate, migration certificate. They did not do it. Fortunately, university has availing the services from the other agency since MKCL entered. This agency was giving service to university in lower cost because of which university could conduct examination and all. As per the information available with The Hitavada MKCL has provided admission card to some students, alloted permanent registration number to some students, trasfered only regular student data to other agency and unloading timetable.
Adv Bajpayee has asked university whether they have issued legal notice to MKCL for violating the agreement, the answer was no. University also told Senate that MKCL was supposed to provide services to affilated colleges also which also they failed to do.
It was also told in the house that though MKCL did not provide all services but frequently threatened university to stop working and finally it did in 2013.
RTMNU has confered 68,605 degrees and 166 PhDs after 101st convocation. University could not distribute the degrees as the work was supposed to be completed by MKCL.  The angry members asked administration why action is not taken against MKCL for failure to provide services.
Other Senate Member Mahendra Nimbarte demanded to provide the amount collected under e-suvidha and whether any audit of MKCL`s services was conducted. University informed that they had severed pact with MKCL and engaged other agency in its place.
MKCL has put up the bills suddenly without informing university at all. They did not reply to letters sent by the university regarding services which were not provided.
Vivek Sawant, MD of MKCL has told news Channel ABP Maza that the company did send letters to university but they did not receive reply and MKCL has also provided all services.
Unfortunately the papers with The Hitavada tells different story.

Website too was left halfway

In the agreement, MKCL was expected to design website, update it from time to time, create separate web portal for affiliated colleges wherein students would log in and create their own account through which they would operate without coming to university. Not only that, MKCL was supposed to provide them all information through SMS. But unfortunately MKCL only created website and left it halfway. Finally the question remains what work MKCL did exactly?