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Thursday, November 1, 2012

State to rank colleges on attitude to women

Rankings To Encourage Higher Edu For Women

Yogita Rao TNN

Mumbai: How a college treats the women on its campus will play a crucial role in determining its ranking among other colleges in the state. The state government plans to rank the best colleges at district, university and state level after assessing them on several parameters, the most important criteria being its sensitivity to women.
    The parameters include measures taken by colleges to curb eve-teasing/ragging, maintaining a balanced male female ratio, convincing girls and their families to pursue higher education, and steps taken by colleges to make girl students economically independent. The idea is to promote equality between girls and boys and increase the enrollment of women in colleges.
    The state’s higher and technical education department issued a resolution on October 23 to all universities announcing a competition in the state for ‘public awakening’. Different committees have been set up to pick two best colleges each at the district and state university levels and in the final stage, three best colleges in the state. The government has even set aside a budget of Rs150croreto award cash prizes to the winning colleges. Colleges will be assessed for a total of 100 marks, of which 50 marks are allotted for efforts made by institutes to make female students comfortable in the college environment. Another 50 marks is for innovative schemes by students.
    The idea is to remove inequality between boys and girls and encourage girls to take up higher education. Rajesh Tope, minister for higher and technical education, said, “The idea is to improve girls’ enrollment in higher education and also to make them fearless. I have been approached by many groups complaining of regular eve teasing incidents. Women’s safety is the topmost priority in higher education. We will try to make it an annual exercise.”
    Ujjwal Uke, principal secretary, women and child development department, said, “The campaign will definitely help bring about awareness among today’s youth. I appreciate the education department’s move in initiating the‘public awakening’ movement.”
    A department official said, “The colleges have to write to us with filled form. The prizes will be announced on International Women’s Day.”