Hubballi: Basavaraj Rayareddy, minister for higher education, sought support from BJP leaders including leader of the opposition in the state assembly Jagadish Shettar, Union minister Ananth Kumar and MP Pralhad Joshi to put pressure on Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar to grant 25% regional reservation in IIT, Dharwad.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new building of the Government Degree College, he said, "Javadekar has refused to consider our demand for 25% regional reservation in IIT, Dharwad, stating that it is a national institute. Despite the state providing 470 acres of land to the IIT, our students are not getting the benefit. In the recent admission process, only seven students from Karnataka got a chance to study at the IIT. This is not fair." He sought support from BJP leaders to prevail upon the HRD minister to consider the demand of 25% local reservation in IIT.
According to gross enrolment ratio (GER), higher education in Karnataka, especially in some parts, is below the national average. The special committee, which was constituted to study the condition of degree colleges has submitted its report. Based on it the government is planning to start new degree colleges in the state with hostel facilities, said Rayareddy.


Of the 412 degree colleges, only 44 have regular principals. Soon steps will be taken to appoint regular principals in all the remaining colleges, he said. The minister also said that the master plan for development of higher education in Karnataka is ready. For implementation of the plan, there is a need of World Bank loan and the support of the Union government, he added.
Jagadish Shettar, who presided over the function, said quality infrastructure and teaching facility should be provided at the government degree colleges so that they can compete with private colleges. He also urged the government to build a government polytechnic college in Hubballi. MLCs Srinivas Mane, Pradeep Shettar, S V Sankanur, Raghu Akhamanche, H G Geeta, and others were present.