Poor infrastructure plagues first grade college in Tarikere

The first grade college which was established five years ago in Tarikere,  still lacks basic infrastructure facilities.

Tarikere did not have a college for several years. It was Chitradurga’s Muruga Mutt which opened a college in 1980. However, the college was not offering science courses. Hence, all those students who wanted to study science courses had to travel 40 kilometre to Shimoga to pursue their studies. Only a few buses ply to Shimoga in the morning. If there was any delay, then students have to forgo their classes. When H R Raju was the MLA, the government had sanctioned a first grade college. However, due to lack of political will power, the college never started functioning for the students.

It was during the BJP-JD(S) coalition government, the first grade college started functioning from an old building of Assistant Commissioner’s office. Since, then the college has been functioning from the same building. The promise of a new building for the college has become a distant reality. The college has been offering courses in arts, science and commerce stream. Akhila Bharata Vidyarthi Parishat and Nagarika Vedike members had staged protest several times in the past.

As a result, the government had sanctioned two acre land and Rs 75 lakh for the construction of the building.The released funds have returned back to the government, as the authorities failed to start the work on the building.

No classrooms

The temporary college building lacks classrooms. As a result, a few of the classes have been shifted to the primary school building.

Unfortunately, these classrooms are in pathetic condition and there is a fear that the building might collapse due to heavy rainfall.

On several occasions, two classes are conducted in one classroom.

The college also lacks a full-fledged laboratory. Hence, the students have to go to Birur and Badravathi colleges to complete their practical classes. Though the authorities had set up a laboratory recently, it is not spacious. The college also lacks toilets.

Until recently, the college did not even have gates and the premises were used for immoral activities by miscreants during nights. However, the public pooled resources and constructed a gate and compound wall. The college do not have regular teaching and non teaching staff. Though the number of students getting admitted to the college has increased over the years, lack of infrastructure is a major cause of concern.

The computers in the college have been gathering dust following the negligence of the teachers, said students.