Date:08/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120816600400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

More funds for Central universities sought

Special Correspondent

Village resource centres inaugurated

CHENNAI : Central universities in the country need a massive increase in funding from the Union Government to create additional seats to accommodate 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Communities (OBCs) in their institutions, University Grants Commission Secretary Tilak R. Kem said here on Thursday.

Dr. Kem, who was the convener of a sub-committee on implementing the reservation in Central universities, noted that in line with the committee recommendations, the number of seats in the institutions should be increased.

"But the increase would not merely be 27 per cent for the OBCS. Correspondingly there should be an increase in seats for the SC/ST students also.

This would be more than 50 per cent rise in seats, which, in turn, would demand a massive increase in the infrastructure and teaching facilities," he said talking to newspersons during a visit to Satyabhama Deemed university to inaugurate a series of 15 village resource centres spread across the State.

Expansion of facilities

Also, the hostels and related facilities for residential scholars would need to be expanded in line with the increase in infrastructure demands.

Answering a question on the UGC's proposals for the XI Plan, he said that while the quantum of the requirements in terms of infrastructure and funds needs were yet to be finalised, the UGC was working on vision document to highlight the issues of access and equity.

Noting that at present 10 per cent of the people in the relevant age were in higher education, "we want to increase this access to 15 per cent by the end of the XI plan. It was also looking at implementing a range of schemes to provide for equity along with access.

"If access is achieved, then equity has to be ensured — equity to bridge any divide between male and female, the rural and the urban, others and SC/ST sections, the rich and the poor and this we hope to achieve by a range of fellowships and scholarships... ," Dr. Kem added.

He highlighted need for stepping up funding for basic science research.