Mysore/Mysuru: JD(S) MLC Marithibbegowda has warned the Government against shifting of six Government First Grade Colleges located in his Constituency, citing poor admissions.

In a letter written to Deputy Chief Minister Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan, who is also the Higher Education Minister, Marithibbegowda, who represents South Teachers Constituency in the Legislative Council, urged the Government to cancel the order shifting six First Grade Colleges to other places.

Noting that the Government has decided to relocate six Government First Grade Colleges coming under the Directorate of Collegiate Education, which have less than 100 students each, he said that five of these Colleges are located in his Constituency, including the ones at Hanur, Belur, Hallimysore, Sakaleshpur and Gundlupet taluks. 

The Government has ordered the shifting of the College at Hanur in Chamarajanagar district, which has 325 students. Pointing out that Hanur College is located in a five acre campus, he said that the College is catering to the needs of students in the region that covers a vast geographical area and in this backdrop, the shifting of the College is not a wise decision.

Likewise , the Colleges at Hallimysore in Holenarasipur taluk, Arehalli in Belur taluk, Sakaleshpur and Terakanambi in Gundlupet taluk too have been catering to the higher education needs of rural students, especially the poor and weaker sections of the society. In such a situation, it is unwise on the part of the Government to shift the Colleges to other locations citing poor admissions (less than 100 students), he maintained.

Claiming that there were over 20 Colleges in the State which have a poor record of admissions (less than 100 students), Marithibbegowda said that it was unfair on the part of the Government to shift only six Colleges, with five of them located in his Constituency. He alleged that four of them are being shifted to Bengaluru City and two to Belagaavi.

Urging the Government to revoke the shifting order, he warned of staging a massive demonstration in front of Dr. Ashwathnarayan’s Office at Bengaluru, along with hundreds of students studying in these Colleges, if the Government failed to drop the shifting move.