The Telangana government has agreed to give technical and logistics support to Andhra Pradesh to conduct its EAMCET counselling from June 12 if the latter government came up with a formal request.
Education Ministers of Telangana and AP Kadiam Srihari and Ganta Srinivas Rao respectively came to an understanding in this regard at the intervention of Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan. Both Ministers were on Tuesday summoned by Mr. Narasimhan after Mr. Srinivas Rao had complained to him on Monday that Telangana government was not sharing information in the domain of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education as it was in the Tenth Schedule of the bifurcation law according to which the local government would enjoy control over the council.
On the advice of Mr. Narasimhan that the two governments sort out the issue between themselves, the Ministers met in Mr. Srihari's chamber at the Secretariat where it was decided that the Telangana government would take necessary steps to aid the EAMCET admission process in consultation with the Advocate-General and adhering to the Supreme Court judgment.
The Ministers told a joint press conference later that an eight-member committee with four members each from both governments would work out data sharing and technical assistance from the APSCHE to pave the way for web counselling. Computers, office accommodation and services of employees would also be made available to the AP government at the council headquarters here. All the information in the computers would be retrieved and shared with the AP government.
Mr. Srinivas Rao said all other issues of the Tenth Schedule would be discussed later. The Governor would shortly convene a meeting of both Chief Ministers to clear ticklish issues of education between the two States.
On the demand of AP that its students be allowed admission to National Institute of Technology at Warangal in the 50 per cent local quota, Mr. Srihari said the issue was referred to the Central government. Mr. Srinivas Rao said the AP government would complain to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on her return from foreign tour seeking justice to its students in NIT admission. Mr. Srihari asked Mr. Rao to strive for establishment of an NIT in AP and provide admission to Telangana students.
