The three Ernakulam-based universities are hopeful that the State Budget to be presented on Friday will provide considerable financial support to undertake key academic and infrastructure plans.
Representatives of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit (SSUS), and National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) exuded confidence that Finance Minister K.M. Mani would earmark funds for the overall development of the varsities in his Budget for the year 2015-16.
Incubation facility
Cusat Vice Chancellor J. Letha pointed out that she was expecting budgetary allocation for the proposed incubation facility on the lines of the Startup Village to help young entrepreneurs pursue their dreams.
The Hindu had reported on January 5 that the varsity had drafted a Rs.1-crore proposal aimed at building the facility on its main campus in Thrikkakara. Dr. Letha said the incubation centre would offer space with air-conditioning, furniture, continuous power supply and conference rooms.
A ready-to-use plug- and-play infrastructure providing lower operational cost had been envisaged in the first phase of the initiative, she said.
SSUS Vice Chancellor M.C. Dileep Kumar said the varsity had sought funds for its Sree Sankaracharya International Study Centre. The project aims at establishing linkages with foreign varsities besides strengthening research and allied activities.
Dr. Kumar said the government had earlier provided Rs. 33 lakh for the centre. We have now asked for additional funds to expand the research and academic activities, he said.
NUALS Vice Chancellor Rose Varghese said the varsity required the assistance from the State for its expansion and infrastructure development initiatives.
Registrar M.G. Mahadev said the university was hopeful that the government would earmark funds for repaying the Rs. 20-crore loan taken from the State Co-operative Bank for the development of the new campus at Kalamassery.
The government had given its guarantee for availing of the loan. “We have now repaid about Rs. 6 crore out of the Rs. 20-crore loan,” he said.
