The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Engg. colleges mite for relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Engg. colleges mite for relief

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, JAN. 11. Ten engineering colleges in Coimbatore zone have contributed Rs. 12.5 lakhs towards tsunami relief, the Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, E. Balagurusamy, said here on Monday.

After a meeting with top representatives of engineering colleges, Dr. Balagurusamy told mediapersons that the contributions had come from the students and faculty of the colleges, towards the Anna University Calamity Relief Fund. Coimbatore zone comprises Coimbatore and the Nilgiris, besides some parts of Erode and Salem districts.

He expressed confidence that the remaining 15 colleges in the zone would contribute an equal amount, so that the total would touch Rs. 25 lakhs within the next few days. Within the next 10 days, the university hoped to mobilise Rs. 1 crore. "We need money for long-term rehabilitation and relief, to construct houses and purchase boats and nets. With 250 colleges under Anna University, we have the human resources and the motivation to build low-cost houses," he said. Activity on putting up permanent houses would commence after the Government made its policy clear on safe locations, especially on how far from the shore line the dwellings could safely come up.

"I have requested the colleges here to waive tuition fees and hostel fees for children whose families have been affected by the tsunami. Let them have free education until they complete their education," he said and noted that special coaching could also be arranged for affected students who were Plus Two candidates. Anna University was keen that temporary employment be provided to final year students in the affected families.

These youngsters could be considered for jobs such as laboratory assistant, technical assistant and programmer.

On engineering admissions, he said that the intake during the current year was almost the same as last year.

Asked about vacancies in colleges, he said there was no reason to be worried over seats going unfilled in colleges with poor infrastructure. It was only an indication that students did not wish to join such colleges.

The university wanted students to have access to laboratory facilities of the specified level. Sharing of resources was a good concept. .

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