Date:26/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/26/stories/2005122600540500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

SVU institutes education fund

A.D. Rangarajan

Setting up an `education fund' to improve infrastructure on the campus, the management of Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati has come up with a blueprint that guides one through the process of mobilising resources.

The fund, running into a mind-boggling Rs.22 crores, will be used to create a conducive environment for academic, research, sports and cultural activities. It is proposed to start need-based courses like Disaster management, Water resources management, Rural development, Biomedical sciences, Gandhian studies, Women studies, Dalit studies and Nanotechnology among others at a whopping cost of Rs.5 crores.

On the infrastructure side, the varsity is keen on building a state-of-the-art lecture hall complex with Rs.1 crore, a directorate for student welfare and cultural affairs (shortly `Students hub') with Rs.85 lakhs, an administrative centre for examinations (Rs.1 crore), instituting chairs of excellence (Rs.25 lakhs), expansion of SVU guest house (Rs.1.40 crores), Technology park (Rs.2 crores) and a Rs.3 crores multipurpose sports complex, among others.

The sports complex will have a shuttle badminton court (Rs.20 lakhs), a basketball court (Rs.20 lakhs), an arena for gymnastics, wrestling, welght-lifting (Rs.60 lakhs), galleries for spectators (Rs.70 lakhs), dormitories for athletes (Rs.60 lakhs) and Accommodation for coaches and officials (Rs.70 lakhs).

Blueprint released

The blueprint, titled "Concept brochure", was released by Vice-Chancellor S. Jayarama Reddy at the SVU Senate hall on December 19 and the first copy handed over to Registrar N. Prabhakara Rao. A taskforce was set up to mobilise funds with Prof. Reddy himself as the Chairman, Rector K. Sivasankara Reddy as Vice-Chairman V. Chandramouliswara Rao, Director, Resource mobilisation as the convenor and his deputy V. Narayana Reddy as co-convenor.

The brochure is, in fact, a roadmap on how to go about mobilising funds for the ambitious projects. Apart from targeting the well-settled alumni, it was decided to hold a meeting in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore with leading industrialists, educationalists and philanthropists and invite generous contributions.

Contributions can be made to the fund in the form of cheque/demand draft drawn in favour of `The Registrar, SVU Education Fund.' Donations are exempt under section 80G of Income Tax Act.