August 26, Tuesday: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday vowed to reform Osmania University (OU) like Stanford and Oxford. He also promised to make universities and colleges across the state drug-free.
“OU is synonymous with Telangana. The state govt is committed to developing OU and restoring to its former glory. Ask what is needed for university development; prepare estimates and provide them to me,” Revanth told the reporters at the Tagore Auditorium on campus.
Notably, he became the first chief minister in 20 years to step into the auditorium. He inaugurated two newly built hostels, Dhundubhi and Bhima, constructed at a cost of ₹39.50 crore each, collectively housing 1,000 students. He also laid the foundation stone for a digital library reading hall and two more hostels, besides launching fellowship schemes for OU scholars.
Among the initiatives was the CM’s PhD Fellowship, sponsored by Singareni Collieries Company Ltd and OU, which will support 200 full-time non-fellowship researchers. Overseas fellowships for postgraduate and PhD students, sponsored by HMDA–MAUD and OU, were also announced.
Revanth said his government is setting up a dedicated engineers’ committee to study university development and announced a ₹1,000 crore fund for OU. “I will hold an open meeting at the Arts College, and sanction funds... Let the opposition parties stage protests during my next visit. I am ready to face them,” he added, promising to return in December without the heavy police deployment that was present on Monday.
“We don’t want to just see graduates pass out of OU. We expect intellectual wealth being created here that will enlighten Telangana society.”
“The problem is across levels—junior and degree colleges, not just universities. I appeal to all to help the youth get rid of addiction. The only thing we can give is education. And, only with education and awareness can one succeed, change their destiny, and become wealthy and virtuous,” he added.
Telangana CM also assured that his government would fill another 40,000 vacancies within the next six months, before completing two and a half years in office.
