With various political parties, including DMK criticising the State government, concerning the Institution of Eminence (IOE) status for Anna University, the State Higher Education department remains firm in getting the tag for the institution provided with certain conditions.
DMK Youth Wing leader Udhayanidhi leads the protest in Chennai on Thursday
Chennai:
Higher Education Minister KP Anbalagan told DT Next that he would announce the government’s stance soon about the present status on getting IOE to Anna University.
Besides, Chairman of the Empowered Expert Committee, which was constituted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to certify IOE status, and former Chief Election Commission of India N
Gopalswami said that there was nothing wrong with the Anna University Vice-Chancellor MK Surappa sending a letter to the Centre for getting IOE tag to the institution.
“Surappa as a Vice-Chancellor did his duty with the consent of the government by requesting the Centre to immediately process IOE application,” Gopalswami said adding that the whole issue has been politicised to target Surappa.
Claiming that the young generation would be benefited if Anna University gets the status, former ECI said that if the government delays, it will be given to another institution, which is a loss to the State. Referring to reports on the State’s share (Rs 1,500 crore) was the issue in getting IOE status, a senior official from the Higher Education Department told DT Next that the government does not have any problem in giving its share. Asserting that the government is firm on getting IOE tag to the institution, he said, “However, the authorities have requested the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to consider paying the share in instalments.”
He said the arising reservation issue when Anna University gets an IOE tag, will also be sorted out. “If the government does not have an interest in getting the eminence status, why should it had bifurcated the institution?” he asked.
DMK seeks AU V-C’s removal
The students’ wing of DMK upped the ruling AIADMK and Anna University Vice-Chancellor MK Surappa for attempting to convert the varsity into an Institute of Eminence. DMK Youth Wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, who led the agitation in front of Anna University on Thursday, said the double standard of the AIADMK regime was evident from the contradictory statements of the ministers on the issue. He said that the protests would continue if Surappa, who wrote to the Centre, was not sacked immediately.
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