By Mehboob Inamdar
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (Bamu) has started heading towards self-reliance in printing degree certificates and answer books with upgrading machinery.
It may be noted that around 484 colleges from Chhatrapati Sambhajingar, Jalna, Beed and Dharashiv are affiliated to Bamu for the academic year 2024-25. The colleges have nearly 2.75 lakh students pursuing 58 undergraduate and 55 postgraduate courses within the university’s jurisdiction currently.
Bamu owns a printing press which recently completed 61 years. There is a lot of advancement in printing technology with the pace of time. But, the university’s printing printed was not modernised. This made the administration outsource answer books, degree certificates and other documents printing. Bamu had to spend lakhs of rupees on outsourcing.
With the rise in printing costs and reduction in income sources, the administration invested money in the machinery a few years ago to print answer books and degree certificates to save money.
The printing degree certificate of some courses which need security features to avoid duplication is still outsourced. More than 60,000 degree certificates are printed annually.
The administration commenced making efforts to save money to strengthen its financial condition.
With the completion of one year in office as vice chancellor Dr Vijay Fulari determined to modernise the printing press of the campus by purchasing new machinery and providing required facilities. The facility will help in saving lakhs of rupees annually.
Pro-vice chancellor Dr Walmik Sarwade said that the degree certificate of most courses started on the campus. “The administration placed orders to purchase more advanced machiners to enhance speed and accuracy to print degree and answer books. The staff will be given training about the new machines. Bamus heading towards self-reliant,” he added.
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The printing press was started in 1964 in the campus. There were approved 82 posts, including a manager. Today, there are only six confirmed employees are working. The administration said that old machinery will be preserved for the students of printing courses.
The printing and binding work, binding of Agendas of various meetings, ballot papers of university Elections, calendar, old results and re-binding, prospectus, all examination forms and letterheads of all departments, heads, authorities and board members, is done in the printing press.