Shivamogga MP meets Pradhan, seeks funds for hostel in Kuvempu University

Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra on Wednesday met Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan and sought his attention to many issues, including the need of a special grant to build a hostel on Kuvempu University campus in Shivamooga.

Mr. Raghavendra, during the meeting, sought a special grant from the University Grants Commission to set up a hostel for students from the other backward classes studying at Kuvempu University.

The students, primarily from rural and semi-urban areas, enrolled for various courses in the university and had been facing hardships due to the absence of affordable accommodation. The hostel would fulfill their need.

Regarding the Kendriya Vidyalaya in the city, the MP sought appproval for permanent infrastructure facilities for the expanded school.

He also appealed to the Minister to clear the long-pending proposal to establish the Rashtriya Adarsha Veda Vidyalaya at Mattur-Hosahalli near Shivamooga.

The MP raised policy issues with regard to lecturers in degree colleges and schoolteachers. He urged the Minister to recognise pre-2009 MPhil degrees as equivalent to NET so that the guest lecturers did not lose their jobs. Similarly, he requested Mr. Pradhan to review the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test for in-service teachers.

He also sought an increase in honorarium for the cook-cum-helpers of the PM Poshan scheme.