Will safeguard TN’s rights in Higher Education: Higher Education minister KP Anbalagan

Replying to the demand made by Leader of Opposition MK Stalin in the Assembly, Anbalagan said the State government would send its views to the Centre on July 7.

Raising the issue, Stalin said the Centre had decided to abolish UGC and set up the National Higher Education Commission. Questions are being raised if the new body would benefit the State and universities.

Though, a representative of the State would be a member of the advisory council in the new body, the commission would not have the powers to allocate funds to States for the universities.

So far, the power to allot funds were with the UGC, he said and added that the powers for fund allocation would be taken up by the Union government which might decide on the funds based on its political priorities.

Already, the BJP government at the Centre is treating the states ruled by non-BJP parties as second grade ones, Stalin said and cited the charge of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that he was not able to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite seeking appointment with him four times.

“There are apprehensions within the higher education circles that doors are opened for the BJP to play its games in funding for higher education. There are 13 universities in Tamil Nadu and how are they going to receive funds?” he asked.

“Did the Centre seek the opinion of State governments which contribute over 50 per cent of funds for higher education in the formation of the higher education commission?”, he asked and added the new body must have the powers to allocate funds to the universities without the interference of the Union government.