Armed forces left in lurch after IGNOU scrapped Community College Scheme

Nearly three lakh personnel of armed forces were left in the lurch after the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) suspended the Community College Scheme under which the soldiers earned certificates and diplomas in various courses.

"We have taken up the issue with the MHRD and are talking to the IGNOU to solve the issue. Three lakh jawans have not got their certificates. We paid around Rs 28-30 crore to the IGNOU which we are yet to get back. Another varsity from Maharashtra has offered us the same terms to run the scheme for our jawans. Nothing has been finalised but we are holding consultations," a source from Defence Ministry said.

Several suggestions had been submitted to a Parliamentary Standing Committee by academics who flagged various issues related to the IGNOU. One of the issues highlighted by the professors is the hastily taken decision by the IGNOU to shut down the Community College Scheme in 2012.

Later, the parliamentary panel had recommended a "thorough probe" by an independent authority to examine the issues, including the IGNOU's decision to discontinue the Community College Scheme. Launched in July 2009, the scheme was scrapped after about two years. Under the scheme, the community colleges used to provide various programmes at an affordable cost to their students. The nature of these programmes and pattern of delivery depended upon the needs of the local community.

"The scheme was started to give recognize their skill and train jawans so that they can take up jobs as civilians after their retirement," Lt General S. P. Kochhar, a former member of Academic Council, said. Around Rs 750 each was collected from the defense personnel. The IGNOU had projects titled Gyandeep (Army), Akashdeep (IAF) and Sagardeep (Navy) for the defence personnel.

The IGNOU, however, clarified that the Community College Scheme (CCS) was discontinued on the recommendations of a high-power committee.