Central government remains non-committal on Cochin varsity upgrade

The HRD Ministry plans to consolidate existing Central universities.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) is learnt to have not given any blanket assurance to the government on converting the Cochin University of Science and Technology into Indian Institute of Science Engineering and Technology (IIEST).

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had led a Cabinet delegation seeking the support of the Centre to various infrastructure and other projects including elevating Cusat in to an IIEST.

The Hindu has reliably learnt that the Ministry reacted positively to the State’s request for speeding up the process of setting up an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Palakkad, but gave no commitment on two key proposals that include converting Cusat in to an IIEST and introducing flagship programmes of English and Foreign Languages (EFLU) at its Malappuram campus.

HRD Minister Smriti Irani gave the Ministerial delegation a patient hearing and assured that it would be followed up without much delay. Senior Ministry officials, who were aware of the State’s longstanding demands, were silent on whether the State’s wishes would be fulfilled.

The Hindu had earlier reported that the HRD Ministry had plans to consolidate the existing Central universities rather than sanctioning more such higher educational institutions. The Centre is likely to give priority to the development of the IIT campus in the coming months. Senior officials of the Higher Education Department said it was expected that the project would get allocation in the next Union budget.