Hyderabad: Construct a university for women in place of the existing Secretariat instead of any commercial venture, educationists and women activists demanded on Thursday at a conference in the city.
The need for a university for women in the state was discussed at a round table conference organised for researchers, women activists, student organisations and other educationists to mark the occasion of the Savitri Bai Phule Jayanti on Friday, who fought for education for all.
The activists recommended that the space where the old Secretariat stands be used “wisely for development of Telangana women” instead of selling it out for commercial establishments.
“An exclusive women university should be established there. It should offer courses which would help in empowerment of women. The varsity should also offer employment opportunities through the courses,” said Naganti Naryana, Centre for Educational Studies (CES).
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao came in for sharp criticism for spending on temples.
“Chief Minister KCR is spending so much on temples. He should instead spend on creating educational opportunities and augmenting women safety. Girls in our state are getting raped while going to school. The recent gruesome rape and murder in Yadadri is an example.
No women’s varsity in Telugu states
“This situation could be remedied with proper transportation system for them,” said Asha Latha, women rights activist.
Ms Latha added that there was no women university in Telangana state.
Previously, there were discussions on converting the Koti women’s college into a women varsity. Educationists are now demanding an exclusive new varsity with all amenities for Telangana women, instead of a namesake conversion of an existing college dubbed as a university.
Student unions have extended their support for the demand, who argue that there was a need for an exclusive women university, which would lead to an increase of enrolment of women in higher education institutes in the state. Sadly, the number of women enrolling in higher education in Telangana as of now is about only 20 per cent, the students claim.
The participants in the conference also stressed on the need for a campaign to increase awareness on the necessity for women varsities.
