Private BEd colleges under fire in Uttaranchal

The Uttaranchal government has given its nod to open scores of private B Ed colleges in the state. With Garhwal University giving affiliation, at least 25 new colleges are being set up in the Garhwal region. Of these, 18 would come in Dehra Dun alone, official sources said yesterday.

But the move is coming under fire from the student community, which is at loggerheads with the government, calling for closure of what they call "educational shops".

"This is part of a wider game plan to privatise the whole educational system," said Indresh Maikhuri, a student leader belonging to the All India Student Association (AISA).

Some student leaders alleged that the government had also given permission to those colleges which had opened these institutes even in a one-room rented accommodation.

"What can we learn in a one-room dingy college?" said Punkaj Khsatriya, a DAV College leader, here.

In order to put pressure on the government, the students called a bandh in the state last week, and have threatened to continue the stir. Most business chambers are also lending their support to students in this regard.

The agitation has spilled to all major towns and cities in Garhwal region with students burning effigies of Chief Minister N D Tiwari on daily basis. The agitation has also put the government in a fix despite the Nainital High Court's directive to start counseling in these colleges from January 15 and give a compliance report.

As of now, the government is caught on a cleft foot whether to allow the opening of these colleges in the face of fierce opposition from students.