PUDUCHERRY: The demand for 25 per cent reservation got a further impetus with a meeting of the Committee to study and suggest measures to address the students concerns of the Pondicherry University. It urged the authorities to ensure 25 per cent reservation for local students of the UT in all PG courses.
According to sources, the panel at meeting last month resolved that the university administration to further follow up with MHRD, Government of India and ensure the implementation of 25 per cent reservation in all PG courses by the departments from the academic year 2016-2017.
It may be noted that the Pondicherry University administration had earlier recommended 25 per cent reservation in all the PG courses for local candidates of the UT.
The proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) for approval in April this year. But the MHRD was yet to take a decision on it.
According to information available, the university has been offering 25 per cent reservation for 18 courses out of a total 56 PG courses.
It was in 1997, after the initiative taken by Prof A Gnanam, the then Vice-Chancellor, the University provided 25 per cent reservation in some of the PG courses offered by it.
It may be recalled that Prof M Ramadass, former MP and former Director of Studies of PU, had written to the MHRD earlier this year seeking reservation for local students for all the PG courses.
Political parties including CPM, CPI, AIADMK and Congress had raised the issue to help the local students in their studies.
Meanwhile, the committee headed by its chairman Dr R Prabhakara Raya Dean, School of Management discussed hostel, transport, and library facilities.
The panel is represented by students, faculty members, officials of the administration etc.
The students members expressed concern over cases filed against them during protests in July and August. The committee after talks decided to appeal to the University to withdraw the cases.
It condemned vandalism on the campus on August 18, 2015 and resolved to suggest to the University to expeditiously act on the complaints.
Pointing to lack of adequate transportation in the campus, the students suggested reintroduction of cycles and appropriate facility for the differently-abled for their movement on campus. They also sought tightening of security inside the campus, especially in girls hostels.
The students raised the human rights issue of Radhakrishnan, a student of Tamil department, and wanted prompt action on the violators, which included faculty members.
They also raised the issue of compensation to be paid to Kavya and Vidhya (who were victims of sexual harassment) as per the Court Order and their degree certificates be given to them. The Committee assured to take up the issue with the University administration for speedy action on the court order and arrange to provide their mark sheets and degree certificate at the earliest.