Date:11/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/11/stories/2006091112020100.htm

Front Page

Resubmission of options begins

Special Correspondent

Government, self-financing college managements agree to talk out admission row

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government and private self-financing college managements on Sunday agreed to thrash out their differences over admission norms and fee structure in self-financing colleges over the coming week, thereby paving the way for resubmission of course/college options according to the 50:50 ratio prescribed by the Supreme Court from Sunday midnight.

The talks, which had remained stalemated following hard positions taken by the Government and the managements, saw some forward movement with Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan taking the initiative to bring the managements back to the negotiation table as instructed by the LDF State committee and getting them to agree to further discussions in the course of the next four days to thrash out the various contentious issues. The Government would talk separately with managements of medical, engineering, nursing and B.Ed. colleges before any umbrella agreement is arrived at, Mr. Achuthanandan told reporters after the two-hour long talks with the managements here on Sunday evening. "The talks were quite fruitful. All questions relating to the self-financing college issue were discussed. Options as directed by the Supreme Court will be accepted from midnight tonight. Once a decision on fee structure is arrived at, its benefit will be passed on to the students," the Chief Minister said and added that the minority question and the demand for change in the relevant provisions would be discussed separately with minority leaders on a date convenient to them.

Later, speaking to reporters, representatives of the private self-financing college managements said the Chief Minister was `quite receptive' to the issues presented by them and that they were optimistic about the potential outcome of the talks. "We are in 100 per cent agreement with what the Chief Minister said and he was extremely receptive," George Paul, representing the medical college managements, said. He said the Government had offered to consider their demand for reviewing the provisions in the new law relating to minority status.