: An ONV Chair in memory of the late poet and Jnanpith award winner O.N.V. Kurup, postgraduate diploma programmes in West Asian studies, and Biodiversity Conservation, a Magnetic Materials Laboratory and a Translational Research Facility in Plant Cell Culture Technology are among the major proposals in the annual budget for the University of Kerala for the financial year 2016-17, presented here on Friday.
The budget estimates income of Rs. 382.62 crore and an expenditure of Rs. 389.08 crore.
While Rs. 2 lakh has been set aside for the ONV Chair, Rs. 3 lakh has been set aside for the diploma programme in West Asian Studies and Rs. 3 lakh for the programme in Biodiversity Conservation. While a sum of Rs.1.80 crore has been earmarked for the Magnetic Materials Laboratory, Rs. 70 lakh has been set aside for the research facility in Plant Cell Culture Technology.
The budget has set aside Rs.1.10 crore for buying equipment as part of the fourth phase of the Nano-Photonics Laboratory. An amount of Rs. 3 lakh has been set aside for a postgraduate diploma programme in Bio-processes under the Department of Biotechnology and Rs. 2 lakh for a certificate course in Malayalam Language Computing under the Department of Linguistics.
New courses
An evening LLM programme would be set up under the Department of Law. A Centre for Population Ageing and Health would be set up under the Department of Demography; funds of Rs. 2 lakh have been set aside for this. An MA programme in Theatre Arts would be instituted under the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts; Rs. 3 lakh has been set aside for this.
A course in communication skills in English language will be instituted for foreign students in the university. A certificate course in Geo-statistical Analytics will be set up under the Department of Geology.
A master plan for the development of the university campuses at Palayam and Kariavattom would be drawn up.
The budget has set aside Rs. 25 lakh for installing a Wi-Fi facility at Palayam and Kariavattom; Rs. 75 lakh has been earmarked for this. A Petrography laboratory will be set up at the Department of Archaeology at a cost of Rs. 1.30 crore. The budget has earmarked Rs. 50 lakh for the development of High Efficiency Thin Film Organ/Desensitised Solar Cells at the Opto-electronics Department.
An amount of Rs. 50 lakh has been set aside for the ‘Synthesis and Characterisation of Polysaccharide-based Stimuli Responsive Drug Delivery project and another Rs. 50 lakh for the project for ‘Screening of Tree Varieties Available in Kerala for Anti-Cancer Molecules’. A sum of Rs. 1.50 crore has been earmarked for installing high-speed OFC connectivity between the two campuses.
The best college union would be given the G. Karthikeyan Memorial Award.
Master plan for development of campuses soon
Department of Law to offer evening LLM course
