HYDERABAD: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka criticised the new University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, likening it to a system where one is forced to pay the bill in a restaurant without being allowed to choose their meal.
Speaking at the National Convention on Higher Education organised in Thiruvananthapuram, Vikramarka said that the Centre, while expecting states to provide funds and run universities, was depriving them of any role in the appointment of vice-chancellors as well as admissions.
“If this situation is allowed to continue, then the states would be confined to cutting ribbons at the inauguration of buildings,” he said sarcastically.
Vikramarka said that the education sector was in the concurrent list and it was not the monopoly of the Union government. “States should build educational institutions and systems suitable for their people and social setups. There would not be many similarities between any two states,” he said and added that no state could provide quality education without autonomy.
“All states should emphatically convey their opinion on such an important priority subject without merely confining themselves to the discussions alone,” he added.
“When states stand united with a common objective, the Centre must listen. States are not mere administrative units but lifelines for the progress of the country”, he added.
Right to choose right path
Stating that the Telangana government was ready to organise the next conference in Hyderabad, Vikramarka stressed the need to formulate an action plan on behalf of states.
“States have the right to choose the right path. If the right decision is not taken, states would have to face serious consequences in the future,” he cautioned.
Special challenges
“Only states know students’ aspirations, their pulse and special challenges to be overcome. Delhi cannot run the education sector with a remote control. The Centre should formulate policies in tune with the requirements of states. If it believes in the spirit of federalism, then it should discuss it with the states,” he added.
Vikramarka also made a PowerPoint presentation, seeking more autonomy for states in education and health sectors. He recalled that in Rajasthan vs Union of India, the Supreme Court noted that India was bound by the federal Constitution. In Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala, the court noted that federalism was the basic feature of the Indian Constitution, he pointed out.
Eliminating the role of state governments in the appointment of vice-chancellors and search committees, and amending the eligibility criteria of vice-chancellors were a matter of serious concern, he said
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu, Karnataka Minister for Higher Education MC Sudhakar, Tamil Nadu Minister for Higher Education of TG Chezhian, Punjab education minister Harjot Singh Bains and prominent educationists attended the convention.