The demand for government law and agriculture colleges in Bidar has gathered momentum before the State budget. Organisations have sent requests to the Chief Minister saying this would create an opportunity for local students get admission to such courses, as they would benefit from the Hyderabad-Karnataka regional quota. A delegation of senior Congress leaders and representatives of associations met the CM in Bengaluru on Sunday with these demands.
“The ratio of students enrolling in higher education institutions is very low in this poor district. The best way to overcome this is to create or increase the number of seats in government or public institutions. Hence, the demand,” explains B. G Shetkar, Bidar Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
“Bidar is among the 100 poorest districts in the country as identified by the erstwhile Planning Commission. It was among the no- industry districts in 1982. The DM Nanjundappa committee on regional imbalances notified four of the five taluks that have been delineated as most backward taluks and Bidar is one. Obviously, students here come mostly from poor families and would find it difficult to afford education in private colleges. If the government starts colleges, it will help them,” Vaijanath Suryavanshi said.
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“The regional reservation under Article 371-J of the Constitution that provides for 70-85 per cent of seats to local students in institutions within HK region, will be useful only if there are enough colleges in the region,” said Basava Kumar Patil, head of the Kalyan Karnataka trust.
The backward district already has government colleges in medicine, veterinary and horticulture. The State government sanctioned a government engineering college to Bidar last year, but it is yet to start. The Unani Welfare Trust and other organisations have urged the government to start a Unani medical college in the district.