CSK Agriculture University to reserve 20% seats for farmers

Shimla, Feb 6: CSK Agriculture University, Palampur in the state today decided to reserve 20 per cent seats for farmers and their wards in B.Sc agriculture and animal husbandry courses.

"The Board of Directors of the University approved the proposal at its meeting today and the same would be sent to the government for its approval," Vice Chancellor of the University Dr KK Katoch said.

Talking to mediapersons here after the BoD meeting of the varsity, Katoch said only those persons who have total dependence on agriculture for livelihood would be considered for this reservation.

The VC said the BoD had decided to curtail routine expenditure and raise the income of the University by taking some steps.

"For the next academic session, the prospectus of the University for various entrance exams would be available online, saving Rs 6-7 lakhs," he said.

The University would commercialise its technical services and start the system of having oral exams and viva through video-conferencing to cut expenses on TA or DA of the experts, he said, adding that It would help the varsity engage experts from outside the country too.

Katoch said the varsity had already set up Central Purchase and Disposal Unit to curtail expenditures and bring accountability. He said the HPAU proposes to raise its annual income from Rs 10.5 crore to Rs 35 crore over a period of ten years as per the roadmap.

The VC said the University's logo for all the products had been changed from Palam to HimPalam as Palam was already registered in Gujarat, adding that keeping in view the global angle, the logo on the letter head of the University would henceforth be in Hindi as well as English.

"It is CSKHPKV in Hindi and it would be CSKHAPU in English," he said.

Katoch said the stipend of the students of the varsity who go for industrial training and Rural Awareness for Agriculture in the last year had been increased from Rs 1,500 to 2,500 per month (Agriculture), Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month (Home Science) and Rs 3,000-4,500 for (Veterinary Sciences).

He said an international coordination cell is being established for exchange of students for education, and the varsity had decided to implement the Scientist Recruitment Board (ICAR) score card for screening and appointments of scientists, henceforth.

"Keeping in view the demand, the varsity proposed to start a Veterinary Pharmacists Training Institute, a proposal has been sent to the state government for sanction," he added.

Katoch said the BoD had given approval to promotion of 92 teachers and in all 250 teachers and 91 non-teachers have been promoted during past one year.

He said the varsity would reach out to farmers with a prediction model on the rates of the food items, identified as surplus in the market in collaboration of the HP State Agriculture Marketing Board.

PTI