143 tech institutions want to shut shop
Following a low turnout of students, as many as 143 private technical institutions offering programmes in engineering, management and computer applications have sought permission of the All India Technical Council of Education (AICTE) for their closure.
The highest number of such applications has been received by the technical regulator from Andhra Pradesh.
A total of 56 technical institutes from the state have so far approached the AICTE seeking permission to close their operations.
A total of five institutes from Karnataka have so far submitted application for their closure, seven from Maharashtra, two each from Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, four from Chhattisgarh, six each from Haryana and Punjab, five from Madhya Pradesh, and one each from Bihar and Uttarakhand.
The AICTE has received 18 similar applications from institutes based in Rajasthan, 17 in Uttar Pradesh and 13 in Gujarat. The names of the technical institutes seeking permission for their closure was not immediately available.
In reply to a written question in this regard in the Lok Sabha recently, Minister of State for HRD D Purandeswari said the AICTE has not asked for closure of these institutions.
“However, this may be due to poor admission in the institutions,” she added.
A senior Human Resource Development ministry official said that the exact reason why these institutions have applied seeking their closure is not known yet.
