THRISSUR: Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan has said that a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the modalities of implementing the ICAR Model Act in Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) will be convened on September 12. Addressing the audience after inaugurating the Farmers’ Hostel in KAU main campus, the Minister said that the importance and relevance of implementing the Model Act has been taken up, but a well thought out framework suitable to the Kerala scenario has to be evolved.
‘Express’ brought the issue to public domain in the recent weeks reporting that five colleges under the Kerala Agriculture University are likely to loose their ICAR accreditation after the State government failed to amend the KAU Act in tune with the ICAR Model Act recommended by the Union government.
“Implementation of the ICAR Model Act has been insisted by the Council. But Kerala has certain peculiarities and constraints in adopting the ICAR frame work as such. I have discussed the issue with the ICAR director general as well. We will have a brain storming session on the core issue. All stakeholders including University officers, people’s representatives and ICAR officials will be involved in the exercise and a consensus will be evolved. Thereafter, I will present the views to the Union Government and ICAR during the All India Agricultural Ministers’ Conference on September 16. Whatever be the outcome, I stand for a student-friendly University,” he said.