Irregularities In Indian Educational Institutions

"Some believe there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world's ills - against misery, against ignorance, or injustice and violence. Yet many of the world's great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man. A young monk began the Protestant reformation, a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth, and a young woman reclaimed the territory of France. It was a young Italian explorer who discovered the New World, and 32 year old Thomas Jefferson who proclaimed that all men are created equal. 'Give me a place to stand,' said Archimedes, 'and I will move the world.' These men moved the world, and so can we all." - Robert F. Kennedy

It is unfortunate to write about cheating and blackmailing by a few owners of some private colleges in Hyderabad. Some of the real estate brokers, toddy traders and money lenders established private pharmacy, medical and engineering colleges in Telangana State and especially in Hyderabad. Their main intention is to make fast money by hook or crook. They collect fee from students heavily. If the regulating bodies object, they collect money through projects or for lack of attendance or through other means. They harass students to pay huge money for lack of adequate attendance or ask students money for joining courses either directly or indirectly. Usually some private companies adopt unethical practices to collect money through hidden costs and the same culture was started by these notorious toddy traders, real estate brokers or money lenders whose sole intention is to make money unethically. They also promise moon to students by getting their institutions ranked by paying bribes or showing that they have the best faculty and infrastructure in the city. In this way, they cheat students.

These notorious owners of private colleges promise handsome salaries on time to faculties and intellectuals at the time of recruitment. They promise that they pay salaries as per All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms but cheat faculty and also regulating bodies like AICTE and the universities they are affiliated. They hire faculty before inspections and fire them once the inspections are over. They don't pay summer vacation salaries to their faculty. They terminate the services of faculty in the name of indiscipline or lack of good feedback from students. They are very sadistic to keep the intellectuals waiting outside their offices. They stop the salaries of servicing intellectuals to show their sadism and egotism. Their egos get satisfied when the intellectuals wait outside their offices asking for salaries. Some of the intellectuals compromise with the insults and some adjust to the realities of unhealthy academic ambience in these private colleges. If intellectuals question such insults and atrocities, they are fired without paying salaries. When they question these private owners for non-payment of salaries, they are blackmailed by the private owners with fake charges. Is there no end for such ill-treatment and irregularities?

Students often question the reasons for lack of good faculty in private colleges. It is not basically the salary but the poisonous culture in these private colleges that prevent the best faculty from joining.

The owners or private colleges are notorious in keeping the regulating bodies happy by inviting them to deliver guest lectures or keynote speeches on college events and celebrations. They pay a huge honorarium to these officials from regulating bodies. Hence, they don't take action against such rogue private owners when grievances are filed by intellectuals and aggrieved individuals.

These notorious owners build their brands by inviting some ordinary people on the public podium speak a few great words about them in graduation-day ceremonies and events. Other spectators think that these ordinary people speak from their hearts. The fact is that they have been hired to speak a few good words on stage which is unknown to others. It is a stage-managed event. They play lots of such gimmicks to build their college brands by fooling people.

Having read the challenges for both students and faculty in private colleges in Hyderabad, you might think that there is no way out of this irritation. I strongly believe in ideas for irritating issues. One man like Mahatma Gandhi fought against British on the principles of truth and non-violence to attain India's independence. One man like Martin Luther King Jr ended racial discrimination in America. One man like Nelson Mandela ended apartheid in South Africa. Therefore, one man who can check the irregularities and corruption in private pharmacy, medical and engineering colleges is YOU. You may be a common man, or a student or a teacher or a conscious citizen of India. It is your responsibility to stand against injustice and fight to convert educational institutions into temples of learning. Let us all strive hard to bring the change and transform educational institutions because the best brains, citizens and leaders come from these temples. Jai Hind!

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi