MANGALORE: The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University B. Hanumaiah said on Thursday that the Government should extend financial support to the higher education sector as the present allocation to the sector is not enough to take up development activities.

Addressing presspersons at Mangalagangotri, Mr. Hanumaiah, who will leave office on October 27, said the present allocation is not enough for maintenance, research and other developmental activities.

This will force universities to hike fees and increase the amount for payment seats. As a result higher education will become inaccessible to students particularly students from weaker sections of the society, he said.

Mr. Hanumaiah, who is a nuclear scientist, said that the university has identified 100 acres of government land at Chikka Alavara, Kodagu district, to relocate the post-graduation centre of the university at Madikeri. The Cabinet has to take a decision on handing over the land to the university, he added. Though the revenue authorities have demanded Rs. 40 lakh for the land, the university has said that since the university is a government body the land should be allocated to it.

He said a committee has been formed to prepare the syllabus for a new course on land management planned by the university.

This will be offered either as a diploma or certificate course, he added. Mr. Hanumaiah said once the syllabus is ready it will be placed before the decision-making bodies of the university for approval. Mr. Hanumaiah said he is happy that he could implement the projects he had planned before leaving office next week.

He said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has rated Mangalore University as the best university in the State with regard to administration.

With respect to education, the Mangalore University has been ranked second in the State and 30th in the country, he added.

It has secured third rank for research. Mr. Hanumaiah said that the Government is considering granting autonomy to seven degree colleges of the university.

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumabi, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the university to strengthen the research activities of Microtron centre, he added.

As part of the MoU nine research projects of over Rs. 50 lakhs have been sanctioned to the faculty members of the university as well as researchers of sister universities.

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