The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Vice-Chancellor demits office

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Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008
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Vice-Chancellor demits office

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. Mahinsha

EVENTFUL TERM: The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala M.K. Ramachandran Nair was given a send-off at the Senate Hall on Monday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: M.K. Ramachandran Nair, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala, demitted office on Monday evening. He expressed satisfaction over effecting a financial turnaround in the university and securing a slew of projects and financial assistance for various departments during his four years in office. Dr. Nair also hinted that he may write a book on his days in the university.

Addressing a ‘farewell press conference’ at the Senate Chamber on Monday afternoon, Dr. Nair said the varsity was not in good financial shape when he assumed charge in 2004. There were huge debts to be paid. As a result of systematic efforts, seven departments could secure special assistance from agencies such as the University Grants Commission and four centres received assistance under the innovative programmes scheme. This is an all-time record as far as the University is concerned, he said.

The university was able to start centres in frontline areas of study; these included the centre for geo-information science — which is a first-of-its-kind institution in the country — a centre for bioinformatics, a centre for nano-technology and one each for arthropod bio-resources and marine biodiversity. He said he was happy that the university could institute a major award for the best doctoral thesis in Malayalam during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor.

“During my term, the university received national recognition for various activities. The NSS received the Indira Gandhi national award and the Institute of Distance Education won the UNESCO award. Receiving these awards on behalf of the university was the most unforgettable moment of my tenure as Vice-Chancellor,” he said.

Dr. Nair said he took pride in the fact that the pay revision/pension revision relating to the university was executed in a time-bound manner.

The one-rank-one-pension scheme was executed in the university much before it was done in other departments. “Ignoring advice from many quarters, I took the initiative to fill existing vacancies of teaching and non-teaching posts. I may perhaps be known as the Vice-Chancellor who managed a university with minimum number of employees,” he said.

Asked about the controversy surrounding the conduct of the examinations for appointments to the post of university assistants, Dr. Nair said the issue was now before the courts and so he would not comment on it. “The University has done nothing wrong in this matter. One day the truth will come out…”

The outgoing Vice-Chancellor said he would now spend time with his family, be more active among students and would also consider writing a book about his years in office.

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