By Najiya O., TwoCircles.net,
Cochi: The Aligarh Muslim University has made it clear that the off-campus centre allowed to Kerala cannot begin functioning from any temporary building. The university has also asked the state government to accelerate the land acquisition procedures.
Mr. MA Baby, state minister of education, had asked Mr. Kapil Sibal, Minister for Human Resources Development, to begin the AMU off-campus centre in any temporary centre. It is said that the government saw the Calicut University as a good option for a temporary centre.
It was after procedures of months that the AMU allowed regional centres in five states including Kerala. The states need only acquire land suitable for setting up the campus and hand it over to the university. The university can apply for funds only if the land is available. The academic procedures will begin once the construction of the campus is completed.
However, land acquisition is delaying the setting up of the campus in the state. The land acquired earlier by the government could not be used for the campus. Now, 400 acres of land has been selected but acquisition remains a hurdle since a part of the land is already in some legal controversy. Besides, the owners of the land have approached the court against the government move to acquire the land.
“The government should acquire land soon,” said Dr. P. Muhammed, Principal, Unity Women’s College. “The government does not seem to have any anti-AMU campus views, since the coming of the campus will be a boost to it. But it has no much commitment either. A bit more determination and acceleration of procedures is all what is needed. If the government is determined, it can crack any problem.”
The regional centre is to be set up in the Malappuram district, a backward and Muslim-majority district in Kerala. The centre can change the face of the district where education facilities are very poor compared to other districts of the state.