Cochin University of Science and Technology move to rename KM Mani centre

Kochi: With the recent exit of Mr K.M. Mani as finance minister from the cabinet over the bar bribery scandal, the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) is planning to scrap his name from the K.M. Mani Centre for Budget Studies established in March 2012 at the university when he was the finance minister.

The syndicate meeting of the university to be held on January 16 is set to consider the issue and a note to this effect has gone from the varsity registrar, according to sources.

It is understood that the proposal has come from Vice-Chancellor Dr J. Letha and in all likelihood it will be passed by the syndicate.

The university authorities would say that the name of the centre is only Centre for Budget Studies in the State Government Budget Book and hence the ‘K.M. Mani’ prefix can be scrapped.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari had formally inaugurated the centre on February 17, 2013 at the Assembly hall in the state capital.

So far, the state government has made an allocation of Rs 1.05 crore for the centre and according to university sources it has been functioning well.

The university authorities seem to be keen on positioning it better and removing any stigma that may come to it by retaining Mr Mani’s name.

Interestingly, the foundation stone for a building for the centre is scheduled to be laid by PWD Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju at 10 a.m. on January 16 at a function in the university.

A seminar to provide first hand exposure to budget making and accounting at local levels will also be organised on the occasion by the centre. The syndicate meet is scheduled at 11 a.m.