Please note dear people of Telangana, that the Governor of Telangana is a woman, the Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court is a woman, the Education minister of Telangana is a woman, the Mayor first lady of Hyderabad is a woman;
Yet, in presence of women in such august positions, the prestigious Kamala Nehru Polytechnic college for Women at Exhibition grounds Hyderabad has been de-listed from the colleges for the polytechnic courses from the academic year 2021-22. Seven aided courses ranging from garment technology to pharmacy to computers to electronics have all been delisted and are not available for women to choose from when the counselling begins tomorrow the 5th of August 2021.
This college’s pride lay in the very fact that girls from lower financial class have studied and study here and have empowered themselves. This college has been the ladder for many women from marginalized sections of society to emancipate themselves from illiteracy and financial constraints.
It is the bounden duty of all political parties, every citizen of Telangana to stand up for the aided and government educational institutions particularly as a women college that is actively serving the purpose of empowering women and girl education such as Kamala Nehru Polytechnic college for women at Exhibition grounds, Hyderabad.
It is ironical that government of Telangana wants to give a dowry amount of one lac rupees to the girl for marriage who has attained 18 years of age, but shuts down the college where she can continue her education and empower herself through polytechnic education at Kamala Nehru where 7 courses are running as aided courses.
APPEAL TO THE AUGUST OFFICES OF WOMEN OF TELANGANA STATE
Through this note we appeal to the highest women offices of this Telangana state, the Chief justice of high court at Hyderabad, the governor of Telangana, the education minister of Telangana, the first lady mayor of Hyderabad to ensure that the polycet list of options of colleges should contain the Kamala Nehru college option and de-listing has to be undone. we expect that the regressive step of delisting Kamala Nehru aided courses for women be promptly undone and included in the list of options for polycet 2021.
Below PFA the letter that was widely circulated for endorsements. many people have already met the education minister of Telangana yet the de-listing of Kamala Nehru polytechnic for women has not been undone.
In these pandemic times when report after report have indicated that crores of Indians have slipped to poverty and nutrition levels and health have been severely impacted and unemployment has increased to alarming levels, it is imperative upon the government of Telangana to open more and add more aided courses in the Kamala Nehru college rather than remove the existing aided courses itself.
Hope the authorities who have taken this most undemocratic and unsocialist step realize that the preamble of constitution lays down the direction of governance as democracy and socialist, which should reflect in each and every step of the government elected by the people.
We expect the highest authorities with greatest responsibilities, who are receiving this appeal, to intervene and promptly give solace to the current students and encourage more and more girls to avail the opportunities of aided courses at Kamala Nehru polytechnic for women, thru a notification that includes and lists the college in the polycet 2021.
Best,
Vimala, women and human rights activist
Ambika, women, children activist
Swathi Maniputri, Alumni of KNPW, PDSU State leader
Maqbool Mateen, national president united citizens forum
Dr Lubna Sarwath, State General Secretary, Socialist Party (India), and many concerned citizens.
Ph: 9963002403
Attachments:
A mass appeal endorsed by public
JAC Letter to Telangana Education Minister:
To
Smt. Patlolla Sabitha Indra Reddy
Minister for Higher Education
Govt. of Telangana
040-23459922, 040-23322228
Dear Madam,
Sub: Request reopening of admissions to seven aided courses at
Kamala Nehru Polytechnic for Women, Hyderabad
Ref:
1. POLYCET 2021 Instruction Booklet issued on 22.05.2021
2. United Andhra Pradesh G.O. no. 2399 dt 16.10.1961 – Exhibition Society – Building for Girls Polytechnic – 4 acres of vacant site adjacent to Pratap Bagh in the Exhibition Grounds – Alienated to the Girls Polytechnic Hyderabad
3. United Andhra Pradesh G.O. Ms. No. 3150 dt 26.11.1964 – Technical Education – Private Polytechnics – Sharing expenditure by State Government & Private Managements
4. State Board of Technical Education & Training – File No. SBTET-AAC/AFL/NOC/5/2021-Academic Section-1- SBTET- Telangana – Issue of NOC for Progressive Closure based on Lr No. Nil, dated 24.04.2021 from Secretary, KNPW, Telangana
5. Lr. No. JNTUH/NOC/Conversion College/Kamala Nehru ECW/2021 dt. 29.06.2021
6. Telangana State G.O. Rt.No. 07 dt. 30.06.2014 – TECHNICAL EDUCATION – Government / Aided Polytechnics – Extension of Approval / Variation of intake / Introduction of additional courses in existing Polytechnics for academic year 2014-15
7. Telangana State G.O. RT.No. 282 dt. 27.10.2015 Release of funds to Kamala Nehru Polytechnic
We are writing to you regarding Kamala Nehru Polytechnic College for Women (KNPW) that has currently about 1200 girl students pursuing various technical courses. We at Telangana Mahila and Transgender Organisations Joint Action Committee, bring to your notice that the State Board of Technical Education and Training issued directives for admissions for 2021-22 academic year, but has not announced admissions for the seven aided courses of KNPW. As per reference number 1, KNPW has been removed entirely from the POLYCET 2021 Instruction Booklet issued on 22.05.2021, indicating that no new admissions will be done in KNPW for the current academic year 2021-22.
The Kamala Nehru Polytechnic College for Women is being run by the Exhibition Society which received land and financial grants from the government as per the references 2 and 3. The college has excellent infrastructure and hostel facilities that ensures utmost safety for girls who come to Hyderabad for pursuing technical education.While the combined intake of all seven women’s government polytechnic colleges in the state of Telangana is 1180 girls, each academic year the intake at Kamala Nehru Polytechnic college is 450 girls which is more than one-third of the total government intake of girls into polytechnic. This itself is proof that the college is a preferred and trusted choice of women students who are from the most marginalized communities and are desirous of pursuing job-oriented technical education.
We have come to know from references 4 and 5 that the Exhibition Society, which runs the college has applied for a progressive closure of the polytechnic courses and has applied for four self-financed courses for which the State Board of Technical Education & Training (SBTET) has given approval. This is indirect privatization. Further, the JNTU has even issued NOC to Exhibition Society to convert the Polytechnic College into a private Engineering college which is clearly detrimental to poor students. It must be noted that the Telangana government has been consistently releasing funds to KNPW for operating the seven aided courses as per references 6 ad 7. This raises significant questions about the Exhibition Society’s uncalled for eagerness to give over the land given by the state government to support women’s education, and the infrastructure developed through public funding, to a private engineering college.
As you are aware, this is a prestigious institution that has given the opportunity to thousands of girl students who are first generation learners from dalit, BC and marginalized communities in Telangana, to pursue professional polytechnic courses soon after class 10. They opt for the polytechnic courses as they can pursue the same after completing 10th class and can become diploma holders within 3 years. They get placements in organized sector, whereas bachelor of engineering requires the students to stay in full-time education for 6 years or more which they can little afford, both because of economic and social conditions.
After completion of the courses, some of them have also join higher education if conditions permit. This has allowed them to pursue careers in the organized sector, giving them security and dignity. We are sure you would agree that any move to close the aided courses is a serious blow that further reduces opportunities available for the professional growth of women.
Kamala Nehru Polytechnic for Women since its inception had a long tradition of unstinted support from three former Prime Ministers of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru who laid the foundation stone, Smt. Indira Gandhi who inaugurated the courses, and Sri Rajiv Gandhi, who participated in the Silver Jubilee celebrations. It would be a betrayal that such an august institution is being privatized citing lack of funds by your government. Surely the small amount of budgetary support required to ensure the continued functioning of this institution is not beyond the capacity of your government. It would be an important intervention that reassures the people of Telangana state that their government is committed to women’s professional and social development.
We have faith that this appeal from Telangana Mahila and Transgender Organisations Joint Action Committee is considered with utmost seriousness by Telangana government. Added to this Telangana’s robust IT Policy is attracting investments from various multinationals which makes it even more important to protect our own technical institutions, and deliver the much required qualified skilled workforce as human capital.
We request you to kindly ensure the continuation of the seven polytechnic diploma courses offered by KNPW with full aid from the government, and even enhance its capacities to meet the growing demand for girls’ higher education. We are sure the government can find the budget for the same. Further, as an immediate step, we request you to reopen admissions immediately for 2021-22 academic year to all the seven professional aided courses offered by KNPW.
Thanking you.
Sincerely
For Telangana Mahila & Transgender Organisations Joint Action Committee
