Minister: private sector neglects marginalised students

National seminar on findings from 2011 census

Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran has lamented the neglect shown by private institutions to those hailing from marginalised sections.

Inaugurating a three-day national seminar on ‘Recent findings from 2011 census and SRS in India,’ organised by the Department of Demography, University of Kerala, Mr. Sudhakaran said private or self-financing institutions, which constituted 80 per cent of the higher education institutions in Kerala, had scant regard to the need to employ those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Inadequate funds

He also emphasised the need for enhancing public health expenditure to rectify the inadequacies of the healthcare system.

Only about one per cent of the Gross Domestic Product was being utilised for public health care.

With a large number of people depending on health care facilities in private hospitals, better regulation of health service providers in the sector was necessary, he said.

Pro Vice Chancellor V. Veeramanikandan presided. Syndicate members K.H. Babujan and Manikraj, Department of Demography head P. Mohanachandran Nair and assistant professor Anil Chandran spoke.