Close Bars Instead of Universities: K'taka LoP Urges State
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Karnataka's Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, has criticized the state government for prioritizing bar closures over universities, arguing that this will force students to seek education elsewhere. He highlights the detrimental effects on local education and financial burdens on families.
Key Takeaways
- R. Ashoka criticizes government decisions.
- Universities are vital for local education.
- Closure impacts students' futures.
- Financial burdens increase on families.
- Government's priorities questioned.
Bengaluru, Feb 15 (NationPress) Karnataka's Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka has publicly condemned the state government, asserting that they should close bars rather than universities.
“When universities are shuttered, students are compelled to seek higher education in neighboring states. The government ought to be closing bars instead of universities. The Congress administration has been progressively closing down universities, akin to their discontinuation of various initiatives such as Kisan Samman and Vidyanidhi,” stated Ashoka during a joint press conference held at Vidhana Soudha.
He remarked that while the government proposes a Rs 4 lakh crore budget, they claim they cannot spare even Rs 342 crore for universities.
“If this amount is unfeasible for them, what’s the point of presenting a budget? They refuse to close 3,000 bars, yet they are shutting down universities,” he emphasized.
Ashoka accused the government of targeting universities to hinder youth from graduating, which would eventually lead to the discontinuation of the Yuva Nidhi scheme.
“Karnataka attracts students from other states and nations for education, but the government is now closing Mandya University and transforming it into an amusement park and water sports facility,” Ashoka lamented.
He further reproached the government for its neglect toward education in a district with a predominantly Kannada-speaking population.
Ashoka highlighted the lack of new faculty appointments, unpaid salaries for guest lecturers, non-implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP), absence of funds for classroom repairs, and no budget for textbooks and uniforms. Additionally, no new colleges have been established.
He warned that students from Karnataka would be forced to migrate to other states for education. He questioned how Karnataka could attract industries when the primary reason companies invest here is due to the availability of skilled talent.
Ashoka cautioned that the closure of universities would adversely affect backward districts like Chamarajanagar, Koppal, and Mandya, which were granted universities to enhance education.
He queried where impoverished families in these regions would send their children for higher education. He pointed out that people are already facing challenges due to microfinance loans, and now they would need to incur debts for education in other districts. He predicted that affected communities would rise in protest against the government.
Former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan stated that closing eight universities would hinder progress.
He accused the Congress of causing setbacks across all sectors and damaging the educational aspirations of the youth.
He noted that Siddaramaiah referenced B.R. Ambedkar and Vachana poets during the budget presentation but is now closing universities.
He underscored that quality education is vital for equal opportunities and mentioned that many districts still lack dedicated universities, even though they were established years ago.
Ashwath Narayan added that the Congress government is shutting down universities due to insufficient funds.
He pointed out that during the BJP administration, universities were launched without creating new positions but by reallocating existing ones.
He referenced 2021 enrollment statistics, revealing that the average college enrollment rate in Karnataka was 33%, while it was merely 10% in Chamarajanagar, 15% in Mandya, and 16% in Bagalkot.
He warned that this action would deprive youth of education. He stressed that universities should not be perceived as revenue-generating entities but as institutions responsible for providing education.
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, asserted that B.R. Ambedkar prioritized education, and the Congress government should follow suit instead of merely distributing free rice.
He criticized the state government for unveiling a Rs 4 lakh crore budget while refusing to allocate even Rs 350 crore for education.
He commended the Central government for its focus on education and healthcare, while accusing the state government of prioritizing real estate over education.
He alleged that the government is closing down Jan Aushadhi (affordable medicine) centers set up by the Central government.
He also noted that the Modi-led government has improved railway connectivity by 40,000 km.
Narayanaswamy accused the Congress of attempting to dismantle what the BJP constructed instead of announcing new universities.
“The Congress should have committed to establishing more universities rather than demolishing those built by the BJP. Education and healthcare must not be viewed as revenue sources,” he asserted.
The Karnataka government plans to close down nine of the ten new universities that were established during the BJP administration, as it was found that only one of them was fully operational, sources revealed on Friday.
The decision was made during a Cabinet subcommittee meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, where the matter was thoroughly discussed.
