Satavahana University cries for attention

KARIMNAGAR: Even 10 years after its establishment, there are problems galore in Satavahana University of Karimnagar district, with no ruling body, no regular vice-chancellor, inadequate professors and non-teaching staff and with only a few functional departments.

The Satavahana University was established in the year 2008 with 160 degree and PG colleges, under the reign of Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy in united Andhra Pradesh with various courses like MA (English, Telugu, Urdu, Economics and Sociology), M.Sc (Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Food Science, Physics and Mathematics), M.Com, M.B.A, M.C.A and B.Pharmacy.

But at present there are only 120 colleges out of which there are 17 degree, five welfare, two aided and 96 private colleges.

None of the departments in the University have permanent faculty as all of them are working on contract basis.

Due to lack of infra-structure, permanent teaching and non-teaching staff and with no signs of any development right from the time of its inception, the University has not been able to get 12 (B) status from the UGC (University Grants Commission) till date.

In its 10 years of establishment, the University had got regular V-Cs only twice. First, when the University was established in 2008, government appointed Md. Iqbal Ali as vice-chancellor of the university who worked from July 28, 2008 to July 27, 2011.

Later, the government appointed K. Veera Reddy as VC who rendered his services from April 19, 2012 to April 21, 2015. From then on, there was no regular V-C for the university.

In 2010, the then V-C, Iqbal Ali sent a proposal to the state government for appointing a ruling body with 12 members, but the government did not do so. Till date, there is no ruling body.

At present, the HMDA (Hyderabad Municipal Development Authority) commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu is in-charge as V-C of the university. Due to heavy workload, Mr Chiranjeevulu was unable to focus on the development of the University and look after its administration perfectly.

The students thought that after the formation of a separate statehood of Telangana, the ruling TRS would streamline everything and will resolve all the issues pertaining to the university, but in vain. They alleged that the fate of the university did not change and remained the same even after the formation of separate statehood of Telangana.

The ruling TRS and local leaders who claimed that they were responsible for the all round development of Karimnagar district are showing discrimination in developing the Satavahana University which is the only source of education for many poor students living in North Telangana after Kakatiya University.

Right from allocation of funds to appointment of VCs and faculty members, the government is showing discrimination, added the students.

The university did not witness any kind of celebrations until Prof. Umesh Kumar took charge as Registrar of the university. With the initiation taken by professor Umesh Kumar, the in-charge VC, T. Chiranjeevulu issued orders for conducting ‘National Youth Festival’ under NSS, sports and cultural festivals which were organised successfully along with annual celebrations during the last academic year.

It is to be noted that the term of seven Vice-Chancellors are going to end by July 24. With three other universities already lying vacant (which includes Shatavahana of Karimnagar district), by August, the government is keen on appointing regular VCs to all 10 universities present in Telangana state.