PATNA, June 28 -- State universities in Bihar have been directed by the Chancellor's office to distribute pending degrees to students who have successfully completed their courses on a mission-mode, according to a letter issued by the Lok Bhavan on Saturday. "It has been observed that a substantial number of grievances received at Lok Bhawan pertain to the non-issuance and pendency of degrees of students who have successfully completed their courses. The issue is of serious concern as delay in issue of degrees affects the higher education opportunities, employment prospects and overall career progression of students," said a letter from Dipak Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary to the Governor, to all the VCs on Saturday. He has directed all the universities to accord the highest priority to the printing and distribution of pending degrees and to undertake a special drive for clearance of the backlog in a mission-mode manner. "While the Secretariat acknowledges the acute shortage of manpower being faced by many universities, the same may be addressed by engaging suitable personnel through BELTRON so that the pending work is completed expeditiously," he wrote. The universities have been directed to furnish detailed information regarding the status of degree printing and distribution as on date in the prescribed Excel format separately for Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) courses. "Each University shall constitute a dedicated Degree Monitoring Cell at the University level under the supervision of a nodal officer to regularly monitor the progress of degree printing and distribution, identify bottlenecks and ensure timely clearance of all pending cases. The nodal officer shall review the progress continuously and periodically report the same to the Chancellor's secretariat at intervals of 15 days, starting July 15 fill September 30," the Chancellor's secretariat has written. Maintaining that the data furnished to the Chancellor's Secretariat should be updated accurately and on a fast-track basis, Singh has categorically written that the reports should clearly indicate the number of pending degrees, degrees printed, degrees dispatched, and the balance cases remaining for disposal. The Chancellor's office has also sought the details of the nodal officer to the Lok Bhawan for smooth co-ordination and monitoring of progress," he added. The VCs have to personally monitor the progress of this special drive and ensure that all pending cases are disposed of in a mission-mode within the stipulated timeframe. The move is significant as delay in distribution of degrees led to protests by students over delayed exam sessions....