Anna University’s ex-VC seeks revival of state university

Former vice chancellor of Anna University, E Balagurusamy, on Saturday made an appeal to the chief minister, M K Stalin, to revitalize the state universities and secure the future of Tamil Nadu's youth.

In his public statement, Balagurusamy portrayed the present condition of the state universities as a complete institutional breakdown and he urged for instant and decisive steps to be taken at the highest government levels. More than 14 state universities are operating without vice chancellors for very long periods, and they do not have regular registrars either. The extended absence of leadership has stopped the university leadership from decision making, accountability has been weakened, and thus institutional credibility has been eroded, he mentioned.

Besides, he pointed out that the universities suffered from a large number of vacancies in faculty positions, scarcity of funds, and research and innovation most neglected to the point that he referred to these as the main victims of the systemic neglect of public universities, especially students from the downtrodden and marginalized sections of society who depend on them for their socioeconomic progress. "If you allow this negligence to continue, rather than address it, the damage to the state's intellectual and human capital will be deep, long, lasting, and perhaps irrevocable. Your timely intervention can still restore confidence, revive universities, and safeguard the future of Tamil Nadu's youth, " he stated.

Due to the ongoing tussle between Governor R N Ravi and state govt on including the UGC's nominee in V-C search committees, 14 of the 22 state universities have been functioning without vice-chancellors for periods ranging between one year and three years.