Kalaignar University will function temporarily on govt. college campus in Kumbakonam: Minister

The proposed Kalaignar University will function temporarily on the premises of the Government Arts College in Kumbakonam, according to Minister for Higher Education Govi. Chezhiaan.

The Minister told The Hindu that the university would start functioning from the 2025-26 academic year itself. A number of sites were taken into consideration for establishing basic infrastructure to launch the university. It would function temporarily on the campus of the Government Arts College for Men in Kumbakonam. A portion of the old hostel of the college would be used for housing the offices of the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar, and so on. He had visited the campus to take stock of the facilities.

Senior officials of the Higher Education Department had inspected the campus. Steps were taken to put in place all needed infrastructure for the officials to discharge their duties and responsibilities.

Until the construction of new buildings, Mr. Chezhiaan said the university would function at the temporary facility. The process of identifying a suitable site for the university was on. A site measuring about 60 acres on the Kumbakonam and Valangaiman Road was under consideration. Revenue department officials were asked to furnish details of the sites and a final decision would be taken soon.

According to sources, the jurisdiction of the Bharathidasan University will be reduced after establishing the Kalaignar University. The Bharathidasan University, headquartered in Tiruchi, at present, has jurisdiction over all arts and science colleges in Tiruchi, Karur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts. It has about 156 institutions under its controls. Of them, the colleges in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur and Nagapattinam are expected to be brought under the jurisdiction of the Kalaignar University.