Three colleges in Tiruchy and another at Mayiladuthurai in Nagapattinam district have been given the status of degree conferring colleges by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) on the basis of statuses like autonomous or ‘A Grade’ accorded by the NAAC and colleges with potential for excellence.
Altogether 45 colleges across the country are being given the status. Among them 11 are from Tamil Nadu and Tiruchy has a lion’s share of three, as the city continues to be an educational hub in the State.
Loyola College, Chennai, Kongunadu Arts and Science College and PSGR Krishnammal College for Women in Coimbatore, Vellalar College for Women, Erode, Standard Fire Works Rajaratnam College for Women, Sivakasi, Fathima College, Madurai and St Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai are other colleges that were accorded the status.
The college principals concerned attended a meeting on October 7 in Delhi convened by the MHRD and were briefed about the status. Sources from the colleges concerned expressed their pleasure at the announcement made by the MHRD. The selected colleges will get `55 crore each for development of basic infrastructure facilities on their campus for a span of three years. Hereafter the colleges will be able to confer degrees with their own emblem.