The Hindu : Final decision on fees on Oct. 1: CM

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Sunday, Sep 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Final decision on fees on Oct. 1: CM

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR SEPT. 27. The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, has said the Government will take a final decision on the fee structure for the merit seats in self-financing medical colleges at the Cabinet meeting on October 1.

Talking to presspersons after inaugurating the Vidyarambham programme of the Amala Medical College near here today, the Chief Minister said all the uncertainties in this regard would be over with the decision of the Cabinet.

Even though the Chief Minister did not give a direct answer to the question as to whether the Government would issue an Ordinance to tide over the crisis over issue, he said: "How can I tell you in advance what will be the decision of the Cabinet? But all these options will be considered at the meeting.''

Mr. Antony agreed the latest High Court verdict staying the Government decision equalising the fee structure for the merit seats in self-financing colleges and Government colleges, has created an uncertainty in the medical education field.

"The students and parents are feeling an uncertainty after the High Court order. But the court order has come only couple of days back. The Cabinet is meeting for the first time after the pronouncement of that order on October 1, and the Government will take a decision at that meeting itself.''

Earlier in his inaugural address, the Chief Minister said the Government would sanction more self-financing medical colleges and nursing colleges next year also even though there were some teething problems in this sector now. After the Government opened up the professional education sector for self-financing institutions many engineering colleges had been started in the State. But in the medical and nursing sector there was scope for more self-financing institutions, he said.

Emphasising the need for bringing in excellence in the professional education sector, Mr. Antony said the self-financing educational institutions would be more viable economically if they maintained high standards because the State then would become a destination of higher education and more and more parents from other parts of the country and outside would send their children here. Recalling that there was stiff opposition when the concept of self-financing was introduced in the State about 25 years ago the Chief Minister said the Government was making some suggestions to the self-financing colleges after taking into account of the aspirations of the people and the overall interest of society.

The UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, who inaugurated the distribution of medical kit to the students on the occasion, said the self-financing institutions should not create a situation where only wealthy students could study in them. However, he said, it must also be recognised that the managements themselves had to raise the resources for running these institutions.

The Minority Commission member, V.V. Augustine, the Thrissur Archbishop, Mar Jacob Thumkuzhy, the Prior General of the CMI, Fr. Antony Kariyil, the Planning Commission member and former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, T.V. Antony, Swamy Sakrananda of the Sree Ramakrishna Ashram, T.V. Chandramohan, P.P. George and K.P. Viswanathan, all MLAs, were among those who spoke on the occasion.

Marad issue

Replying to questions from the reporters the Chief Minister agreed the discussions with the Araya Samajam on the rehabilitation issue had remained inconclusive. Asked whether the Government would be able to rehabilitate those who had fled Marad by October 2 as he had announced earlier, he said "that is what the Government is earnestly trying to do.''

On the talks with the Araya Samajam on Friday he said, "They explained their demands, and I told them about the steps being taken by the Government to settle the issues.

The Government's stand has been that all those who were involved in the killings at Marad directly and indirectly would be brought to the book and given the maximum punishment, as well as give compensation to the kith and kin of those who were killed. The Government also wants to bring back those who had fled Marad in the wake of the violence there.''

Asked whether the Government would order a CBI inquiry into the Marad killings as demanded by the Araya Samajam and the BJP, the Chief Minister said, "There are issues which were debated on an on. But the Government has no problem in knocking at any door to resolve the issue. We have no obstinacy on the issue. I appeal your (the media's) cooperation also to find a solution for the issue."

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