Provide basic facilities at govt degree colleges, State urged

Member of Legislative Council and BJP chief Whip, Ganesh Karnik has urged the State government to declare a special package to provide basic facilities for around 60 per cent government degree colleges in the state, which lack basic amenities.

Addressing a press conference at Mangalore Press Club here on Friday, he said “Most of the colleges that are established after 2008 lack basic facilities like classrooms, laboratories and library. Around 1.90 lakh students are studying in such colleges. While the UGC grade lecturers of these colleges are yet to get the arrears for the past five years, which amounts to around Rs 800 crores,” he stated.

“The government should recruit lecturers for the vacant posts in aided degree colleges on grant-in-aid basis. The recruitment is being done till PUC, for the posts which were vacant till 2012. Same provision should be extended to the degree colleges as well. Around 50 per cent vacant posts in the universities of the state should be filled, Karnik demanded.

Regarding the consequences benefits of the teachers of aided education institutions, he urged that the government should implement the High Court order and provide pension, allowances and other benefits to them. The discrepancies in salary among primary, high school and pre-university education teachers should be addressed and salary should be fixed for PU college principals. In aided schools and colleges salary should be released in time and electronic clearance system be implemented for the purpose,” he urged.

Karnik meanwhile demanded that “At least one Group C and D worker should be appointed for every aided school and college, which is already sanctioned. There should be transparency in renewal of license of schools and colleges and the process should be done in time. The student, teacher ratio at the government schools and colleges should be applied to the aided schools as well. From 1987-95, no school has been added to the list of aided schools. The government should consider the new applications and add new schools based on the requirements within 15 to 20 days.”

He asked the Social Welfare Department to fill the vacant posts in Morarji Desai Residential Schools. The amount of grants to the education has been decreasing gradually from the past five years. Last year the government had given Rs 23,100 crore, but this year it is been cut by Rs 1,200 crores, Karnik rued.