THRISSUR: It has become almost certain that five more colleges under Kerala Agriculture University (KAU) will lose the ICAR accreditation if the state government continue to dither on amending KAU Act in tune with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Model Act.
The Central Government and the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) have given six-month time to the varsity in May to amend the KAU Act in tune with ICAR Model Act to continue with the accreditation being enjoyed by it.
“Though the deadline for amending the KAU Act will expire on October 31,the government has not taken any step to amend the Act. And, it has become almost certain that the government would not amend the Act before the deadline,” said experts.
The accreditation of the College of Cooperation and Banking under the KAU has already been cancelled by the ICAR a few weeks ago. In its latest reminder to the state government and the KAU, the ICAR director has said that dillydallying with the Act will cause the withdrawal of the accreditation to Agricultural Colleges at Vellayani, Vellanikkara and Padannakkad, Forestry College at Vellanikkara and Agricultural Engineering College at Thavanur as well.
KAU Vice-Chancellor P Rajendran told Express that there was all probability for ICAR withdrawing the accreditation to the colleges. About the cancellation of accreditation to the College of Cooperation and Banking, he said the ICAR Director General has assured to reconsider the decision, but the rider on granting accreditation to the colleges is adoption of Model Act.
ICAR has repeatedly asked the university to ensure this, but the action to amend the Act rests with the government.
Recently, the Central Government also issued directions in this regard and the KAU authorities have forwarded a proposal to amend the Act to the state government.
However, the authorities concerned haven’t taken any action on the proposal, the VC said. When the issue was first reported by ‘Express’, Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan said the government would take necessary action.
According to sources, the government is dragging it feet on the issue because of the influence of some vested interests.