Volunteers of the Communist Party of India (M) on Monday staged a sit-in near the Chief Secretariat to mark their protest against the Puducherry Government’s continued apathy towards the problems in the education sector and for favouring private education institutions.
The protesters led by CPI (M) Central Committee member and Chidambaram MLA K. Balakrishnan along with Puducherry unit secretary R. Rajangam took out a rally from Jawaharlal Nehru Street.
The protesters were, however, blocked en route by the police after which they staged a sit-in protest near the Chief Secretariat condemning the government’s apathy in controlling private educational institutions.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Balakrishnan said the Puducherry Government was unduly favouring the private education institutions while failing to initiate measures for strengthening the government run educational institutions.
Several government schools had denied admission to their own students who had studied up to class X, he said.
The government should enact a legislation to prevent the private schools from charging excess fees from the students. It should also ensure implementation of 25 per cent reservation for students of Puducherry in admission to Pondicherry University.
Mr. Balakrishnan also urged the government not to grant No Objection Certificate to three private medical colleges to become Deemed Universities.
The administration should take steps to ensure that the private colleges allocated 50 per cent of seats for the government quota besides streamlining the fee structure.
CM’s assurance
CPI (M) leaders hand over a memorandum on education sector to Chief Minister N. Rangasamy in Puducherry on Monday. (Below) Earlier in the day they staged a sit-in.— Photos: T. Singaravelou
Later Mr. Balakrishnan along with leaders of the CPI (M) Puducherry unit submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N. Rangasamy at his chamber in the Legislative Assembly.
Sources said Mr. Rangasamy gave them a patient hearing and assured them that a committee would be constituted soon to streamline the fees structure in private schools in Puducherry.
Denies reports on permission
The Chief Minister denied reports that the government had granted permission to three private medical colleges to become deemed universities.
He also told the delegation that efforts have been taken to fill up 470 posts of teachers in government school.
