GUNTUR: The only degree college in the 29 villages of the state capital region faces the threat of becoming history, with one of the arterial road of the seed access road, designed to provide high-speed connectivity, runs through the college, as per the master plan. CRDA officials have marked the route the road will take, but have made no efforts to shift the college yet. The Tulluru Educational Society, established in 1991 as non-profit organization, caters to the educational needs of the surrounding villages.
The college was the brainchild of Ravela Subba Rao, who also donated money for the purpose. It was was later taken up by Gadde Mangaiah and Ravela Sambasiva Rao. It began as a junior college and introduced degree courses in 1996. It is the only degree college in villages surrounding Tullur. Present, 180 students from 12 villages study in the college. TES president Gadde Mangaiah told DC that the college has been functioning on donations for the past 25 years with nominal fees.
“If the road is laid as per the master plan, the college building will have to be razed,” Mr Mangaiah said, pointing out that the poorest of the poor are study in the college. “We have made representations to the CRDA but no assurance has been given yet,” he said. College principal Bandlamudi Subbarao said, “Our academic records are on par with corporate colleges. Last year, our college registered 93 per cent pass percentage with 970 marks as highest score in Intermediate,” he said, pointing out that 30 students of the college got admissions into reputed engineering colleges.
The society bought 2 acres of land to get affiliation from the university but this land was pooled for the capital. “We are asking for allotment of land for the college in the master plan,” Mr Subbarao said, adding that this request has not been accepted yet. Student Federation of India former state vice-president D.S. Lenin accused the government of being least concerned about poor students. He said the government promised to provide free education to all in the capital region, but was only promoting private institutions like VIT, SRM etc. “Will the government give an assurance that all these students get admissions in these corporate colleges free of cost,” Mr Lenin asked.
