Autonomy crisis: Maharaja’s writes to govt

KOCHI: Maharaja’s College authorities have written to the government, requesting them to intervene and reach a consensus with students on the issue of autonomy.
This has come amidst growing opposition from students in turning the college into a completely autonomous institution from the next academic year.
The college can set up its own admission process, conduct exams and revise the academic content when it becomes an autonomous institute.
The college principal Francy T V confirmed that he had written to the government and sought their intervention. “It is a matter of concern for us that the students’ union is opposed to the college becoming autonomous. We have already delinked from the university system. By next academic year, if we don’t have processes in place to conduct admissions and exams, we will be in trouble. To ensure the smooth functioning of the college, a compromise has to be reached with opposing students,” said Francy.
At present, whenever there is any meeting to discuss autonomy issues, the students’ union holds protests, forcing authorities to cancel the programme. Sometimes they have had to seek the intervention of police to control unruly crowds.
Meanwhile, the government has sanctioned Rs 1.42 crore to Maharaja’s College from the Rs 5 crore set aside by the government in the 2014-15 budget to turn the college into an autonomous institution.
A major chunk of the allotted amount will be utilized to improve library facility, lab and net connectivity.
As per the government order issued on March 19, the higher education department has also given administrative sanction to purchase furniture and equipment for office use and hold students’ support programmes, training, seminars and workshops as part of implementing autonomy in the college.
While Rs 60 lakh has been allocated for students’ support that includes improving library and internet facilities and modernisation of science laboratories, Rs 30 lakh has been earmarked for training teachers and holding seminars and workshops.
Rest of the amount has been allocated for purchasing furniture, printing prospectus, application forms, answer books and question papers. The college has time till September 30 to utilize the fund.