Centre, Andhra Pradesh Government urged to take steps for sanctioning required teaching, non-teaching staff for Central Tribal University  

A view of the Central Tribal University. File
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Representatives of various tribal organisations, students’ associations have asked the Union and State Governments to take necessary steps to sanction the required teaching and non-teaching staff for the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh so that the University can start new courses in the academic year 2025-26.

In the absence of an allocation of sufficient numbers of professors, associate professors and assistant professors, the University authorities are unable to launch new courses for the last couple of years. The university is currently offering 13 courses such as Botany, Chemistry, Geography, Bio-Technology, Tribal Studies, English, Sociology, Business Management and others.

The total number of students is currently around 400 in the University which was established in the Year-2019-20. Their number is expected to cross 1,000 if 11 new departments are established with the sanctioning of 77 new teaching posts and 48 non-teaching posts.

The existing 18 teaching staff members and 12 non-teaching staff are unable to handle 13 departments in the University. The students are worried about their future in the absence of full-fledged laboratories on the campus established in Old Andhra University buildings.

Central Tribal University-A.P. will have permanent structures in a couple of years says its Vice Chancellor T.V. Kattimani

Adivasi Samshsema Parishad State vice-president Vaba Yogi alleged that both Union and State Governments were neglecting the University although it was established under Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act. “The Union Tribal and Finance Ministry officials should look into the issue of new departments and posts even before the completion of permanent structures in Saluru Assembly constituency of Parvatipuram-Manyam district to benefit the students of tribal communities and others.

“Apart from laboratories and teaching staff, the government should take steps for the establishment of hostels immediately. Many new students are hesitating to join the University in the absence of hostel facilities. The government authorities can look into the issue since it is the only university functioning without hostels in the State,” said a student of bio-technology course.

When contacted, the University officials said the Union Ministers concerned were requested to okay the proposals for additional teaching and non teaching staff so that the University would be able to function as per the national academic standards.