‘Appointing new chancellor won’t solve problems’

COIMBATORE: A day after the new chancellor took charge, the Avinashilingam University Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff Welfare Association on Tuesday said problems would persist until the Centre commits in writing that the university would continue to receive funding from the University Grant Commission (UGC).
The Avinashilingam University had on Monday appointed P R Krishna Kumar new chancellor.
The members of the association had on Monday evening submitted a letter to the university management expressing their dissent over the appointment of the new chancellor. “If Avinashilingam Deemed University remains public funded, then the governance system has to be decided by the central government, and the chancellor has to be appointed by the Centre,” it said in a press release issued on Tuesday.
“Unless there is a categorical commitment in writing from the central government about grants, the problems will remain,” it further said.
The Association of university teachers (AUT) has also offered support to the Avinashilingam University teachers. The association general secretary, N Pasupathi, said, “The university, despite being public funded, also receives funds from the state government. And we feel that the state government should intervene and resolve the matter.”
“The state government should make representations to the Centre. The institution was established to provide education to women from the economically weaker section,” Pasupathi further said.
Meanwhile, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TDPK) is all set to organize a protest against the chancellor, P R Krishna Kumar, on Wednesday.