Telangana: Colleges write off tour plans

HYDERABAD: The Beas river tragedy that took place more than two years back in which 24 students from the state met a watery grave, still seems to be haunting engineering colleges. They have done away with the annual industrial tours to different parts of the country. The co-owner of a top engineering college here said there has been an undeclared ban on such study tours.

“No college is willing to take chances since the reputation and position achieved after decades of hardship would be lost because of a single unexpected incident. It is difficult to control adults. Hence the best way is to avoid such trips,” he said.

JNTU Registrar N. Yadaiah said that one-day field visits to reputed companies were being arranged instead. Mr Kalyan Chakravar-thy, who has just passed out, said his batch went to a chip manufacturing factory and to the National Institute of Amateur Radio. His friends from other branches went to BHEL while others to ECIL.

Prof. A. Krishnaiah from Osmania University said that only civil engineering students were taken on an excursion outside the state capital region. “Civil engineering involves construction of dams and power plants. Four faculty members accompany each batch instead of two earlier. Strict instructions are given to students not to go into the water or move separately,” he said.

Guest lecturers avoid regulations
Private colleges have found an alternative to inter-state industrial visits by opting for reputed institutions and companies within the state capital. But they cannot get industry experts to give guest lectures.

Colleges say that the rules framed by the university put off guest lecturers who are keen to teach.

Mr Sunil Kumar, general secretary of the Telangana Private Engineering and Professional Colleges Association, says that senior managers with over 20 years’ experience feel uncomfortable having to comply with provisions such as getting an NoC from their employer, and furnishing PAN details etc.

“We hope the university relaxes norms. AICTE has given permission to appoint 20 per cent of adjunct faculty from industries and reputed institutions,” he said.

JNTU registrar N. Yadaiah agreed that it was a good idea to have senior hands from the industry as guest lecturers. “A proper procedure should be followed to enrol their names on faculty registers,” he said, adding that they were looking into concerns raised by private colleges.

Mr G.V.K. Reddy, a senior professor in civil engineering, believes guest lectures by experts benefit students. “Students get a perspective of what it’s like working in the industry, and what a fresher will have to face after coming out of college,” he said.