The Hindu : Karnataka News : Colleges seek export zone status

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 04, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Colleges seek export zone status

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 3. While seat sharing and fee structure with regard to professional courses hangs in balance, educational institutions have their own expectations from the Union Budget. If they come true, you may have students going to campuses that are Special Export Zones because of the fees they earn from overseas students.

Major groups of professional colleges such as Manipal and M.S. Ramaiah have suggested that since they attracted overseas students in large numbers, they could be identified as "exporters of Indian education" and given a special status. "India can become an education hub in the region, if the Government took some policy initiatives," says D.A. Prasanna, Executive Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group.

Major educational groups want the software technology parks concept to be extended to them. This would mean the colleges would be eligible for duty-free imports of campus requirements against export earnings in the form of fees paid by NRI students in foreign exchange. They could become eligible for credit against their forex earnings from fees paid by overseas students.

Another suggestion is to declare campuses earning over

$ 10 million in foreign exchange as Special Export Zones. There could be a "single window" for international students to simplify via, police clearance and if needed, work permits. Enquiries with the educational groups show they have other suggestions in regard to the healthcare facilities they provide as an extension to medical education. "Healthcare can be treated on a par with the software industry and visa procedures made easier with the help of foreign embassies for healthcare professionals to work overseas," says the head of medical college. He suggests creation of Health Tech Parks with income tax concessions, to encourage forex earnings from overseas patients.

To promote clinical research and R and D, there should be duty-free import of inputs, the medical colleges ask. The import of equipment by hospitals could be liberalised and the "free treatment" condition should be limited to a specific period, they say.

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