Rama Krishna Sangem
A modern science research center and some infrastructure facilities include Palamuru University (PU)’s Rs 75 crore budget for 2022-23. The PU caters to higher educational needs of erstwhile Mahabubnagar district in Telangana. The budget was approved at the executive council (EC) meeting held on March 29, Tuesday.
PU Vice-Chancellor Prof LB Laxmikanth Rathod, Collegiate Education Commissioner Naveen Mittal, IAS, University Registrar Prof Pindi Pavan Kumar were among those present in the EC meeting. The university set up in 2008 along with several other territorial regional varsities established by the then government.
PU secured Grade B of NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) in 2018 and is planning to apply for upgrade in the ranking soon.
The budget proposals include a girls hostel with 300 student capacity at PU campus at Rs 9 crore, another girls hostel with 150 capacity at Wanaparthy at Rs 5 crore and a boys hostel at Wanaparthy for 150 students at Rs 5 crore. A sports complex, play fields for athletics, football ground, synthetic tracks at Rs 15 crore and a Central Research facilities building with approximate cost of Rs 10 crore.
The university got block grant from the state government to a tune of around Rs 7.58 crore for 2021-22, while the same for coming year is projected at Rs 9.85 crore. The normal revenue expenditure including salaries for this year is estimated at Rs 17.55 crore. The university gets funds under RUSA (Rashtriya Uchhatam Siksha Abhiyan) from the Center and is admitted for UGC’s Section 12 (B) in 2014-15.
Aiming for higher NAAC ranking:
Talking to Excel India, VC Prof Rathod said: “We are confident of becoming one of the best regional universities in Telangana state and expand our activities, both academic and extra-curricular this year”. He said efforts are underway to promote greenery on the campus and add more facilities to students. “A modern research center for science students will come up this year,” said Prof Rathod.
Currently, PU has 155 affiliate undergraduate colleges with around 60,000 student intake while its main campus at Mahabubnagar offer 17 courses, and three Post-Graduate (PG) centers at Gadwal, Wanaparthy and Kollapur offer 13 courses with a student intake of around 2,000. The PU has introduced Choice Based Credits System (CBCS) as suggested by the national education policy.
Prof Rathod said that PU would soon secure A Grade NAAC ranking with the support and cooperation from the district ministers and higher officials.
He has plans to strengthen academic faculty and improve social and economic outreach with the help of government, industry, research organisations and other agencies in the coming years. “The aim is to emerge as a preferred destination of higher education in this region,” said Prof Rathod.
good wrap up PU EC meet