Mumbai: Governor asks State Government to take early action on introduction of new Universities Act

Rons Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 04 Sep 2013: The Governor of Maharashtra K. Sankaranarayanan today asked the State Government to take early action on bifurcation of large universities and creation of sub-campuses, since affiliation of a large number of colleges was affecting the quality of education and administration in universities.

 

 

In this connection, the Governor asked the State Government to make up its mind on the recommendations of the Dr Ram Takawale Committee that had already submitted its report to the State Government.

The Governor further asked Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to enact the new Maharashtra Public Universities Act that would replace the existing Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994 to strengthen the University system. The Governor also asked the Chief Minister to take steps for the establishment of a separate University for Skill development and Vocational training.  
The Governor was addressing the meeting of Vice Chancellors of traditional Universities in Maharashtra at Sahyadri State Guest House in Mumbai on Tuesday (3 Sept).

 
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of Higher and Technical Education Rajesh Tope, Minister of Medical Education Dr Vijay Kumar Gavit, Minister of Public Health Suresh Shetty, Ministers of State D. P. Sawant and Rajendra Mulak and senior government officials were present at the meeting. Vice Chancellors and Pro Vice Chancellors of 15 universities attended the meeting.

 
Pointing to the recent incidents of sexual violence against women, the Governor asked the Vice Chancellors to ensure that campuses of universities and colleges in Maharashtra provided a safe and supportive atmosphere for girl students and women teachers and staff. He asked Vice Chancellors to make sure that every case of violence against women or inappropriate behavior towards them was taken very seriously and dealt with according to the provisions of law. He further asked the Vice Chancellors to ensure that women’s grievances cell were active and functioning in Colleges and Universities.
Voicing concern over delay in declaration of result of various university exams, the Governor directed the Vice Chancellors to declare all examination results within 30 days and latest within 45 days. In this connection, he asked the Universities to implement the recommendations of the Rajesh Agarwal Committee to bring about examination reforms and to avoid malpractices in the conduct of examination.

‘Government to create Sports, Engineering universities’: CM

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan assured the Governor that apart from setting up the university of vocational training and skill development, as indicated by the Governor, the Government was also thinking of creating new universities for ‘Sports’ and ‘Engineering & Technology’.

Expressing serious concern over the quality of education, the Chief  Minister called  for evolving  a system  of ranking of  colleges and universities within the State to create a spirit of competition among colleges and universities.
Mentioning that the State Government has formed a State Innovation Council under the Chairmanship of eminent scientist Dr Raghunath A. Mashelkar, the Chief Minister asked the universities to prepare their innovation reports and submit the same to the Governor on a periodic basis.

The Chief Minister announced sanctioning of Rs. 2 crore as a matching contribution from State Government to the amount of Rs. 2 crore already pledged by the Indian Merchants’ Chamber to the University of Mumbai to institute a chair.
Minister for Higher & Technical Education Rajesh Tope underscored the need for carrying the academic audit of universities in Maharashtra to address the issue of quality of education.  Tope informed the meeting that the Government has received 6 – 7 proposals of self-financed universities and expressed the hope that more self-financed universities will come once the first of such university was established.

Minister for Public Health Suresh Shetty thanked the Governor for his support to the Voluntary Organ Donation Movement and screening of Thalessemia students started by the Government.

Chief Secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia called upon the universities to implement the sports and youth policy announced by the State Government in the year 2012.

Issues of Choice Based Credit System, bringing uniformity in the examination pattern, evaluation and syllabus, bringing transparency in the functioning of universities, utilization of university land, energy audit of university and implementation of solar energy project in the universities, etc. were also discussed at the meeting.