K'taka demands 25 % seat reservation to locals in IIT Dharwad

Congress-ruled Karnataka government today demanded the Centre to amend the IIT Act to reserve 25 per cent seats for local students at IIT Dharwad.
The state government also sought an IIIT for a backward district of Raichur, recognition of courses offered by the Karnataka Open University, support for starting railway engineering courses and flying schools in the state.
"IIT Dharwad was made functional from August 1. Only seven students have been selected from Karnataka. Local students should get benefit. We are contributing so much for this IIT, 25 per cent reservation should be given to Karnataka students," State Higher Education Minister Basavarajrayareddy told reporters here.

The state government has given 500 acres of land free of cost for construction of IIT Dharwad. A few very courses are being offered at present, he said after making a representation to HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar.
The state minister also requested the Centre to formally inaugurate IIT Dharwad later this month.
This apart, Basavarajrayareddy said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has derecognised Karnataka Open University and the state government has amended the laws in line withe UGC.

"We requested the Government of India to grant recognition to the Karnataka Open University at the earliest," he said.
The state minister also discussed about possibility of establishing an IIT or IIIT at Raichur in order to develop the backward district. He said the state is ready to provide land at free of cost.

Basavarajrayareddy also made representation to Union Civil Aviation and Railways ministers and sought support for setting up of flying schools in the state and for offering railway engineering courses.
The flying club school, which set up way back in 1960, by the state government has now become a defunct entity. The state government has now suggested the Centre to utilise either HIL airport or Mysuru airport to restart the school.