TN to get Aligarh Muslim Univ branch
AMN
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Wakf Board has planned to set up a branch of the Aligarh Muslim University in the state. It’s chairman Kaviko Abdul Rahman said, “Around 250 acres of land have been identified in Pudukottai district (central Tamil Nadu) for setting up a branch of the university. We have sought the Centre’s approval.” The board has also proposed to set up a media centre which includes a journalism college for minority students at Poonamallee.
The Aligarh Muslim University has identified five states — Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar and Kerala— for setting up such satellite centres. Abdul Rahman, who is on the governing council of the university, has sought its sanction to set up a branch in Tamil Nadu.
“As one of the states where the satellite centre was to be set up is not willing, I have requested that Tamil Nadu be chosen instead. The board is confident of getting the nod for the satellite centre,” Abdul Rahman said.
According to the Aligarh Muslim University website, vice-chancellor Prof P K Abdul Azis has said Murshidabad and Malappuram, special centres of the AMU in West Bengal and Kerala, would be operational with MBA and BA (LLB) courses from the next academic year. The university is preparing a report to get funds from the Union HRD ministry for the special centres. The vice-chancellor said the main aim for setting up satellite centres was to make education affordable for poor Muslims across the country.
“The wakf board has a lot of land across the state. It is planning to use the land to build education centres for the Muslim community and to prevent encroachments on it. A media centre has been planned on two acres of land on the outskirts of Chennai. A prominent Muslim institution has come forward to set up the institute which will have a digital library and a huge conference hall,” the wakf board chairman said.
Abdul Rehman also added that as the wakf board had extra land, it had been decided to set up a medical college and an Islamic University for Women.
“The board is seeking funds for the Islamic university from Arab countries and is planning to establish the university in Karaikudi in Sivaganga district. All the projects will become operational in five years,” Abdul Rahman said. The wakf board among other welfare measures has disbursed marriage assistance to the tune of Rs 10,62, 400 to 325 beneficiaries. The board has assumed direct management of four wakfs in Dindigul, Dharmapuri and Cuddalore districts for better management.