UGC: Not shutting centres studying discrimination

Vellore: Calling the letter received by Jawaharlal Nehru University a ‘forged’ one, UGC chairman Ved Prakash said: “UGC is not closing down any centre studying discrimination.” Close on the heels of JNU’s dalit research scholar Muthukrishnan’s suicide last week, media reports said the commission will stop funding the Centre for the Study of Discrimination and Exclusion at JNU from April 1. After the exam, the universities can fix their criteria for admission as they are autonomous institutions.” On the prevailing discrimination at the higher education institutions, he said, “the UGC has established guidelines for preventing discrimination. As per the guidelines, anti-discrimination officers should be appointed in all higher education institutions.” Moving on to other subjects he said, “If a university gets the highest grade in NAAC rating continuously for two years, they need not come to UGC for setting up a new department. It creates a healthy academic competition.” When asked whether it would be made compulsory for all institutions to participate in the national ranking, he said, “We are moving towards it.” Speaking at the function earlier, VIT Chancellor G.Viswanathan said, “The Ministry of Human Resource Development should recognise the private universities which are performing well in the form of giving grants.” Awards and medals to the meritorious students were also distributed in the event.