Nov 19 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
VC seeks Rs 20cr to expand AMU library, admit girls
Eram Agha
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New Delhi
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It appears that every dark cloud indeed has a silver lining. The silver lining in the AMU affair is that Aligarh Muslim University vice-chancellor Zameeruddin Shah has sought a Rs 20 crore grant from the HRD ministry to expand the main university library so that it can accommodate girls from the Women's College.He will also use the funds to start a bus service for the girls of the college, which is 3km from the university campus.
Speaking to TOI here, Shah clarified that his sexist remark was made in jest. “It was a simile,“ he said, referring to his statement that girls in the library would attract boys. He stressed he was in favour of girls coming to the library and in June last year wrote to parents asking if they would be fine with their wards travelling unescorted from college to the AMU campus. “Barring one, no parent said `yes',“ he said. In a letter addressed to the Union HRD ministry , Ali garh Muslim University vice-chancellor Zameeruddin Shah has said, “Despite being open for 18 hours from 8am to 2am for seven days a week it (the library) is always overcrowded. It was constructed to cater to 7,000 students but now the strength is 28,000.It is not at all feasible to take more, we are also examining if it is feasible to get Women's College girls, the problem is of space and we need funds for expansion of the library .I will be projecting a requirement for special allocation of funds to MHRD.“
Shah has clarified to HRD minister Smriti Irani that AMU has not violated the fundamental rights of women. He said, “The safety of girls moving from their college to the main library after dark is a major security hazard because of the lumpen elements of Aligarh city . There have been several cases of chain snatching and eve-teasing.This aspect can be taken care of if the College has bus service. Unfortunately , there was a total ban on purchase of new vehicles by universities, till it was clarified that replacements for condemned vehicles could be restored to.“
Speaking to TOI here, Shah clarified that his sexist remark was made in jest. “It was a simile,“ he said, referring to his statement that girls in the library would attract boys. He stressed he was in favour of girls coming to the library and in June last year wrote to parents asking if they would be fine with their wards travelling unescorted from college to the AMU campus. “Barring one, no parent said `yes',“ he said. In a letter addressed to the Union HRD ministry , Ali garh Muslim University vice-chancellor Zameeruddin Shah has said, “Despite being open for 18 hours from 8am to 2am for seven days a week it (the library) is always overcrowded. It was constructed to cater to 7,000 students but now the strength is 28,000.It is not at all feasible to take more, we are also examining if it is feasible to get Women's College girls, the problem is of space and we need funds for expansion of the library .I will be projecting a requirement for special allocation of funds to MHRD.“
Shah has clarified to HRD minister Smriti Irani that AMU has not violated the fundamental rights of women. He said, “The safety of girls moving from their college to the main library after dark is a major security hazard because of the lumpen elements of Aligarh city . There have been several cases of chain snatching and eve-teasing.This aspect can be taken care of if the College has bus service. Unfortunately , there was a total ban on purchase of new vehicles by universities, till it was clarified that replacements for condemned vehicles could be restored to.“
