THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The procedures are on to set up the headquarters of the
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University on a piece of land at Vilappilsala in
Thiruvananthapuram district, education minister C Raveendranath told the assembly on Monday.
Presenting the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (Amendment Bill), 2018, which was later referred to the subject committee, the minister said the Bill’s aim was democratisation of the university’s governance rather than politicisation. “Four additional bodies –– board of studies, financial committee, planning committee and students’ council –– are being constituted,” he said.
“The key for democratisation is ensuring representation of all parties concerned, including students, women and marginalized sections like SC/ST communities in the university governance,” he pointed out.
Asserting that the government will initiate major changes at both university and affiliated colleges levels, ‘which would be different but mutually beneficial’, the minister said that a revised curriculum too was in the offing.
Drinking age: Meanwhile, presenting the Abkari (Amendment) Bill 2018 to raise the age limit for consumption of liquor, which also got referred to the subject committee, excise minister T P Ramakrishnan told the assembly that under the LDF regime, 64 cases have so far been registered for selling liquor to persons below 21years.
“Under the UDF tenure, the number of such cases was 22. Now we are raising the age limit to 23 years, which is in line with the LDF’s policy of discouraging alcohol consumption among youth,” the minister said. He also said that the enforcement wing has been strengthened to prevent substance abuse, which is evident in the seizure of 1,337kg of ganja in 2017 against 624kg in 2012.
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