Your attitude is your altitude

Within a short period of one year and five months, Satavahana University Vice-Chancellor T Chiranjeevulu gave a facelift to the University. He had constructed additional floors in girls hostel, internal BT roads and lighting, open gym in boys hostel, a strong placement cell etc. 

HMDA Commissioner Chiranjeevulu, IAS, has been appointed as the in-charge VC on August 30, 2017.
An interview with the VC, T Chiranjeevulu to throw light on the services he rendered to the university and his vision for the university in future.

Q: What are the renovation works you took up for Satavahana University?
A: Many civil works have been taken up during my one year and five months’ tenure, which totally changed the university atmosphere both physically and academically. 

Sufficient hostel accommodation is provided to girl students in the campus by constructing two additional floors on the existing one. Internal BT roads with footpaths were laid giving a new look to the university. The entire campus is illuminated with LED lights. An open gym was set up at boys hostel with the support of Karimnagar Municipal Corporation.

As many as 48 CCTV cameras were installed at main centres in the campus to keep vigil. Bio-metric machines have been installed for both staff and students in the university. The university guest house and canteen were brought into use. New buildings for the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences have been sanctioned and construction work has been initiated, which would complete in 12 to 18 months. Massive plantation programme, under Haritha Haram was taken up, which turned the university into lush green. Now the university has a peaceful atmosphere. 

Q: University requires a strong placement cell, which can provide students ample career opportunities once they leave the college. Do you think that the university’s Placement Cell is working well?

A: The university has a well-equipped Placement Cell through which competency and employability skills, entrepreneurial development programmes would be conducted at regular intervals. Every year number of students are being selected for various companies based on their eligibility. 

Most of the students have been recruited in pharma industries, food processing industries and in teaching field. In the recent placement drive, a few students were selected for Escorts Company.

The university has created a cell, ‘Institutions and Industries Interface Cell’ with a senior faculty as the Director along with a committee. This cell focusses to get MoUs with industries for project works and internships. Recently, an MoU with ICAR (Indian    Council    of    Agriculture    Research) was signed and another with Singareni Collieries Company Limited is in the process.

Q: The official website of Satavahana University do not provide details of the courses, fee structure, professors, alumni, residence etc. Are you revamping this site?

A: We already designed a new website for the university with comprehensive information of the university administration, examination branch, colleges and departments. The courses and fee structure also already available and information about the affiliated colleges. All the information related to the university and its functioning would be updated time to time to help the students and community.

Q: How are you ensuring safety to girl students? Is there a well-placed Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) that looks into sexual harassment cases?

A: Security to women is ensured in the university with separate hostels, compound walls, security guards and CCTV cameras. Internal Women Cell has been created with faculty and students to look into harassment issues. 

So far, any such incidents took place in Satavahana University because of the measures taken up by the administration. Still the university gives top priority to this issue. Medical facilities are also provided for girl students and ambulance services are provided for emergency needs.

Q: The recent victory of Punjab University students in repealing the curfew against women hostellers has thrown light on the discriminatory policies the universities adopt in the name of ‘safety’ of women. What are the curfew timings for boys and girls hostels in the Satavahana University?  And how would you like to ensure better equality?

A: The rules related to admission, college functioning, hostels and security are common for boys and girls in the university. There are no discriminative policies here and the administration has not faced any issue related to discriminative issue and safety of women. We are ensuring safety to women as mentioned in point No.4.

Q: University must provide equal opportunities to all irrespective of gender, caste, religion, place of birth etc. How does the reservation system work in Satavahana University? Is your college open for transgenders?

A: The university strictly follows the Rule of Reservation prescribed by the government & UGC. Equal opportunities are ensured irrespective of gender, caste, religion, and place of birth. Yes, the university is open for transgender students and there is no discriminative policy.

Q: Nutritious food is one major aspect a university has to take care of. What exactly comprises the hostel menu of Satavahana University?

A: The hostels in this university have a weekly menu with breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu is prepared by keeping in view of the students’ health, a balanced diet with quality and quantity is scheduled as suggested by doctors and nutritionists. Important thing is that the messes are managed by student community only.

Q: Do you think Satavahana University has a long way to go? What do you think of the immediate concerns that the administration must deal with?

A: Yes, the university has a long way to go. This Satavahana University has high potential to have industry interface with NTPC, SCCL and FCI which will come into operation very soon. NTPC-Ramagundam has already helped our University PG College, Godavarikhani with Business School building and a proposal has been submitted to NTPC to help the university with Satavahana Business School and HRD centre. 

We submitted proposals to SCCL to help PG College, Godavarikhani with infrastructural facilities. The immediate concern is to expand the university with new courses and the departments for which our proposals have already been submitted to the government and waiting for the approval. 

The university planned to conduct first convocation in May this year. 12B process is going on and the university would also plan to get NAAC approval. University needs to enter MoU with foreign universities also. Research and Extension need to be given importance.

Q: What is your message to the youth, in general?

A: In today’s knowledge economy and globalised world, youth should develop required competences and skills for getting employment anywhere in the world. Youth should not dissipate their energies on unproductive and unnecessary issues. 

Time won’t come back. Students must use the time they spend in the university optimally for their development and career growth. World is full of opportunities and one has to develop required knowledge, skills and attitude. Particularly rural youth has to develop self-confidence and shall dream high and dare enough to achieve. Don’t forget your attitude is your altitude. Never afraid of competition. 

By Bhagyanagar Bhaskar Kumar