In a bid to educate underprivileged youngsters, Aligarh Muslim University will open up a polytechnic college to impart skills through vocational courses

ALIGARH Muslim University formally requested the union minority affairs minister to convert AMU into a central university. AMU vice-chancellor, Zamiruddin Shah said that the government has presented them with nearly 300 acres free of cost. The area has been divided into two parts and in one division three courses are already being taught in a temporary building.  The university also intends to start a polytechnic college so that students applying for vocational courses here can easily secure jobs.
At present, an Arts course, LLB, a management course and teaching course are being taught at the temporary building. Shah added that construction would soon start in Sector A and that the main aim was to impart education to underprivileged sections. There are plans to start a fully functional open university in the Murshidabad campus and admissions are open to everyone. If the Murshidabad campus is turned into a central university, then similar courses will be introduced in the future. Already 225 students have enrolled themselves at the AMU center and nearly a quarter of them are from Bengal alone. Shah said that while starting the polytechnic college, the students’ requirements would be taken into consideration. The university&’s administration is already trying to build new campuses in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
However, the university still has its share of shortcomings and the vice-chancellor said that the state government has already been approached regarding these problems. The canal that separates the two sections of land that was recently gifted by the government is a drawback. Another problem is arsenic contamination in water. Students are forced to buy packaged water since the water here is not fit for drinking. Shah said that if the Murshidabad campus is made into a central university, then Rs 250 crore that has been allocated for the university in the 12th Five Year Plan would increase nearly ten times. This would be a major boost for education in Bengal.
In addition to this, AMU was recently in the news because of protests over the visit of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. The protest, which comprised of teachers and students of the institute, was held because of outrage over the Akhilesh Yadav government&’s indifference towards the Muzaffarnagar riots.