The Himachal Pradesh CPM has expressed shock at the decision of the state government to allow an increase of seats in the private universities.
In a press communiqué, Tikender Panwar, Shimla deputy mayor and member, state Secretariat of the CPM, said that there seemed that the government has not learnt any lessons from its predecessor who had allowed rampant opening of these private universities. It is indeed queering to note as to what is the rationale behind allowing such an increase whereas 55 percent of the prevalent seats have gone vacant.
The CPIM has indicted the government of shedding its manifesto into the shelves of its almirah and instead working exactly in the directions of its predecessor. The CPM has reiterated its demand of having a thorough probe into:-
1. The land deals surrounding these private universities
2. The issue of academics and faculty employed in them. To ensure that quality education is imparted and simultaneously to ensure that minimum UGC norms are followed in selection as well as wages to the faculty members.
3. To ensure that the admissions are done centrally through a common test conducted by the state government or the HPU. To further investigate cases of selection of students passing just 10th and admitted in engineering and management courses. The government must ensure that there is a proper review and monitoring of the fees structure by providing teeth to the state regulatory authority and not blunting it as was done by the previous BJP.
4. To ensure that the constitution of the country is followed and the reservation to socially and economically backward is provided.
The party has asked the government to seriously monitor these universities and alongwith the regulatory authority constitute a team of retired academicians to help in the monitoring of these institutions so that they serve the desired purpose and do not remain as money minting shops.
