GUNTUR: Stating that the government is committed to eradicating the menace of ragging menace from all the universities in the state, Human Resource Development Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao has vowed that the government will not spare anyone involved in the recent sensational case of suicide of Rishiteswari, a B Arch student of Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) here.
Speaking to newsmen here on Saturday after a visit to the university, the minister said that in the wake of Rishiteswari’s suicide - suspected to have been a fallout of ragging - while some of the culprits had already been arrested, some more were yet to be arrested. He said that the government had taken several measures like the installation of CCTV cameras on the campuses of all the universities and colleges, introduction of bio-metric attendance system to curb the entry of outsiders into the universities / colleges, etc., to curb the ragging menace.
Stating that the government was keen on developing the ANU as a model university as it was located in an area under the jurisdiction of the new state capital, he added that its in-charge vice-chancellor B Udaya Lakshmi had brought about a lot of improvement in the functioning of the university within a month of her appointment. He wanted the in-charge VC to ‘wrap up’ the developmental activities by October 15 - the birth anniversary of former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam and which was recently designated by the United Nations Organisation (UNO) as the International Students Day.
The university and college authorities should strictly implement the bio-metric attendance system for both the faculty and students, he said and added that the government proposed to link the fee reimbursement and scholarship schemes to the students’ attendance as recorded by the biometric system.
Earlier, the minister reviewed the functioning of the ANU with its officials and faculty and also inspected the newly-installed CC cameras and control room. He also interacted with the faculty and students and sought their feedback on the various reforms being introduced in the university.
He was told by several students that they wanted increased security and surveillance, elimination of caste system, filling up of all vacant posts and provision of WiFi connectivity on the university campus.
When some of the faculty members praised the functioning of the in-charge Vice-Chancellor and urged the minister to continue her services for some more time, the minister said that the government only wanted to run an efficient system irrespective of individuals.
Speaking on the occasion, Udaya Lakshmi explained the slew measures she had taken so far to improve the functioning of the university.
Rector KRS Sambasiva Rao, Registrar P Rajasekhar and others were present in the university during the minister’s visit.