Vijayapura: Putting an end to all speculations and rumours that the Government is planning to shut down Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women’s University, a lone women’s university of the State, the authorities have made it clear that the Government has no plans to close the university down. On the contrary, the authorities have said that they have plans to strengthen the Women’s University with more facilities. This statement has been issued not only by the Vice Chancellor, and Deputy Commissioner but also by Higher Education Minister himself.
It may be noted that the matter was first raised by activist Srinath Pujari that according to his information, the Government is planning to close the University. A few days ago some of the Congress leaders too had expressed apprehensions about the State Government’s plan to close the State’s only women university and converting it into co-education.
Now, the District Administration has made an official statement that wherein Deputy Commissioner P. Sunil Kumar said that he had contacted the Vice Chancellor of women’s university to find out if there is any truth in the rumours. And he in turn made it clear that there is no such proposal before the Government. He added that the Minister of Higher Education is planning to conduct a comprehensive study on women in the contemporary world. Accordingly, discussions are being held on how to expand women’s university activities, and there is no question of closing the women’s university, he said and added that unnecessary rumours are being spread about the closure of the university.
“Even the Irrigation Minister Govind Karjol has given clarification about this by denying the closure of the university. The public, parents and students should not give importance to the rumours,” appealed DC Sunil Kumar.
Further clarifying the matter Professor Dr. B. K. Tulasimala, Vice Chancellor of KSAWU, said that the government has not chaired any meetings to discuss the closure of the university. There is no such proposal before the Government. Even the Government has not conveyed any message to the university either about the closure or changing the name of the university.”
It may be noted that a team spearheaded by women’s university former Vice Chancellor Dr. Sabiha Bhoomigowda and other women activists have met the leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D. K. Shivakumar urging them to prevent the Government plans on closing the women’s university. Even Congress MLA M. B. Patil had expressed concerns on this and demanded clarification from the Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister.
Higher Education Minister Dr. C. N. Ashwath Narayan also denied the rumours and said that, “The Government has no plans on closing the women’s university. However, as per the new policy, the government is planning to set-up a university either in Vijayapura and Bagalkote.”
