TUMAKURU:Tumkur University (TU) has set a new precedent by instituting separate gold medals for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes and the physically challenged in a bid to boost the morale of these students.
Madhugiri MLA and president of Tumkur District Central Cooperative (TDCC) Bank K N Rajanna took the initiative of instituting the system of awarding medals to these students following the advice of auditor Ramachandra.
Rajanna contributed Rs 37 lakh to TU of which Rs 32 lakh was meant for gold medals and Rs 5 lakh for endowment lectures.
Governor and Chancellor of Tumkur University Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala presented gold medals to 73 students of various departments of which 28 medals were awarded to SC, ST students and a physically challenged student, Shreedhara T S. All the students received the TDCC sponsored gold medals.
Vice-Chancellor A H Rajasab said out of 8,507 students who received degrees, 12.3 per cent belonged to the general category and the rest were SC, STs and OBCs.
The university is imparting higher education to the rural masses with poor economic backgrounds, Rajasab added.