Mandya univ merger with UoM being considered

Mandya: The University of Mysore, known for its history and international recognition, saw its reputation diminish following the creation of Mandya University, Mandya district minister N Cheluvarayaswamy stated on Friday. He voiced concerns that the division has negatively impacted the UoM's stature.
He noted that Mandya University has not yet achieved full independence in the five years since its inception and struggled to secure adequate funding from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
He emphasised that the proper funding required for the university's growth is unlikely to materialise from the UGC. Discussions have been held on the matter, and there is a growing opinion that Mandya University should be merged with the UoM. A committee, headed by the DCM, has been tasked with evaluating this possibility. However, the committee is yet to submit its report, and a final decision will be made following a Cabinet meeting, he said on Friday.
Currently, Mandya University serves nearly 20,000 students across 47 affiliated colleges. Although opposition from various organisations and individuals exists, the govt has decided to prioritise the interests of students, teaching staff, and non-teaching staff. As a result, the merger of Mandya University with the University of Mysore is being actively pursued.
Cheluvarayaswamy responded to comments made by former minister HD Revanna regarding the location of the agricultural university sanctioned for Mandya. Revanna previously advocated for the establishment of an agricultural university in Hassan. The minister, however, expressed that Revanna and his allies were entitled to their personal opinions but criticised their opposition, claiming that it was politically motivated. He sarcastically remarked that the JD(S) and Revanna were only interested in securing votes from the people of Mandya, rather than genuinely supporting the region's development.