Pointing to the “pathetic condition” of State-run educational institutions, the All-India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) accused both the Union and State governments of “escaping from their duty”.
In a press conference here on Thursday, AIDSO district president Mallinath Singhe and district secretary Hanamantha S.H. alleged that the successive governments have been hell-bent on commercialising the education sector by developing policies that unreasonably favoured private educational institutions at the cost of government institutions.
“The budgetary spending on education is diminishing every year. Little or no initiatives are taken either to fill vacancies in government educational institutions or to expand the infrastructure. Most of the hostels are set up in private buildings as the government is not releasing funds to construct its own building. Adequate funds are not released for providing food to students staying in hostels. As a result, government educational institutions are closing,” Mr. Singhe alleged.
Mr. Hanamantha alleged that the government was designing its educational policies in such a way that they unreasonably favour the development of private institutions. “The government is supposed to strengthen its existing institutions and open new ones as per the growing population. Instead, it is closing down the existing ones. We have been demanding a PU college and a degree college for Wadi town but the government has been deliberately ignoring it,” he said.
Conference
The students’ leaders said they will hold a conference in Kalaburagi on July 26 to raise students’ issues.
According to them, thousands of students will take out a rally to Kannada Bhavan where the convention will be held.