Hyderabad: Students of Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women’s University, formerly Osmania University College for Women, Koti, initiated a protest demanding the passage of the University Bill in the upcoming Assembly session and securing University Grants Commission (UGC) approval for the institution by December end.
These steps are crucial for the institution to attain recognition under the UGC Act, 1956, they said.
The college was elevated to a state university in 2022. In September, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced that the university would honour the legacy of Chakali Ilamma, a prominent figure in the Telangana armed struggle, by adopting her name.
The delay in receiving UGC recognition has has raised concerns among students about the validity of their degrees. Renuka B, a student, told Deccan Chronicle, “We are proud to study at an institution with such a rich history, but without UGC approval, our degrees might not be recognised elsewhere.”
The students’ demands have garnered support from various quarters. Earlier this month, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi wrote to the Chief Minister’s Office, highlighting the urgency of obtaining UGC recognition to safeguard students’ careers.
