Students of Madurai Kamaraj University College here, who were left out of the State government’s free laptop scheme, are likely to receive the freebie. The students of this college had staged several protests in this regard and criticised the authorities for excluding them from beneficiaries’ list.
Vice-Chancellor Kalyani Mathivanan raised this issue at a recent VC meet in Chennai and got a positive feedback. “While the students of other constituent colleges in the State got free laptops, somehow our college was left out. The students’ demand is justified and the Higher Education Minister had promised to look into the issue,” she said over phone from Chennai on Thursday.
Last week, a team led by the MKU College Principal in-charge J. Balan had met the Higher Education Minister in Chennai and submitted the relevant data requesting the State government to distribute free laptops. “When we met the Minister, he was very positive and immediately spoke to the Vice-Chancellor on this issue. Owing to some confusion, the college was left out and we are confident that the anomaly will be rectified soon,” he said.
According to university officials, there is no problem with regard to other constituent colleges at Andipatti, Sattur, and Kottur in getting free laptops for students. During their protests, the students of MKU College had made a representation to the district administration seeking its intervention.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor on Thursday reiterated her position that university campus would not be allowed to be used for holding anti-establishment meetings because it would send wrong signals to entire academic activities. “During working hours, we are supposed to focus on research and classes. Moreover, we are ready at anytime to listen to grievances of students and faculty members. Hence, they can come and meet me directly,” she said.
