The University of Mysore has decided to provide comprehensive security on its main campus — Manasagangotri — on the lines of IIT and IISc. at a total cost of Rs. 5 crore in the next six months. The university has mobilised some funds from the public and plans to use part of the Rs. 15 crore of the University Grants Commission (UGC) grants released for the overall development of the campus.
The sprawling campus is spread over 560 acres.
K.S. Rangappa, Vice-Chancellor of the university, told The Hindu here on Wednesday that as of now, the campus was accessible to all people. There were incidents of anti-social elements entering the campus at late hours and disturbing the students staying in the hostels. A few physical altercations had also taken place. This and recent reports of rapes and sexual assaults in different parts of the State had prompted the university to provide complete security to students on the campus, he said. In addition, many parents had expressed concern about the safety of their children, he said.
The university was also giving priority to protecting its boundary by preventing encroachments on university lands, the Vice-Chancellor said.
He added that vehicles were seen moving on the campus late at night and anti-social elements were seen drinking alcohol.
Thus, the university had decided to provide comprehensive security on the campus.
The VC said that there are over 64 PG departments on the campus and over 20,000 students were studying on the campus. Of them, over 6,000 students were women residing in hostels on the campus, he said. “It is my duty to provide all the students a safe and a secure atmosphere,” he said.
Prof. Rangappa said four gates would be installed and security personnel would be posted to regulate people entering the campus. Work had begun on installing the gates at the entrance from the village hostel side, at the entrance of the Senate Hall from Paduvaralli Road, at the entrance of the Open Air theatre and at the entrance near JCE College. The entry of students late at night would be restricted, he said. However, students could go from hostels to the university library at night during examinations, he said.
