The Telangana Artist Forum (TAF) has regretted that in Andhra, Sri Venkateshwara, Yogi Vemana and Nagarjuna Universities, 85 per cent of the seats are reserved for local and 15 per cent for non-locals, while in sharp contrast, 64 per cent of seats in the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University here, were given to students from Seemandhra.
Condemning the discrimination, they have decided to take the issue to the notice of the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and also to the Education Ministers concerned.
On Thursday, they submitted a representation to the Vice-Chairman, Telangana State Council of Higher Education, Prof. Mallesh.
TAF Convenor Ramana Reddy demanded that counselling in the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University be stopped, till justice is done to students from Telangana.
Since the College of Fine Arts was formed by the Nizam in 1933, over 80 per cent of the students were from Telangana and after it was merged with the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 1972, regional reservations were introduced with 36 per cent for Telangana and the remaining for Seemandhra. The continuance of this age-old exploitation even after Telangana is formed is affecting the prospects of its students and is quashing their dreams of becoming artists and architects, Mr. Reddy said.
