THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy has hoped that the managements of professional colleges that have secured minority status from the National Minorities Commission would show social commitment.

In a statement here on Thursday, Mr. Chandy said that while he had no objection to any institution getting minority status, he would request them not to forget their obligations to society. "The Constitution has clear and comprehensive provisions for protection of minority rights. The protection guaranteed by the Constitution is not a favour but a right. Even when enjoying the rights, the obligations to society must not be forgotten," he said.

Pointing out that the contributions of Christian Churches to Kerala's educational advancement were praiseworthy, the Opposition Leader said the people of the State expected the Churches, which had played a signal role in putting Kerala on the path of educational development, would make significant contributions in the field of technical and higher education as well. "I hope that along with the protection of minority rights, social commitment would also be upheld," he added.

Consensus needed

Mr. Chandy held the Government responsible for what he termed the controversies and uncertainties in the field of higher education and pointed out that this was an area that should be handled with extreme care. The path to be adopted in the field of education was one of consensus. Instead, the Government was trying to force the managements to behave with challenges and violence. This was the reason why the Government's attempts to tame the managements were suffering setbacks.

Government's inefficiency

Actually, it was the right of the Government to determine the minority status of educational institutions. It was just that the Government had surrendered that right because of inefficiency. The court quashed the provisions relating to minority status of educational institutions because the definition of minorities in the self-financing colleges law ran counter to the Constitutional provisions. This was what led to the National Minorities Commission taking a decision in the matter. The Opposition Leader wondered what purpose would be served if the Government were to go in appeal after having failed in discharging its duty.

The self-financing colleges must have the resources necessary to maintain high standards. But, at the same time, there should not be any exploitation. What Kerala needs are socially committed measures that would help talented students and students belonging to backward and Dalit communities to study in self-financing colleges paying reasonable fees.

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