Quota in Kufos Courses for Fishermen's Children: Babu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Children of fishermen would be given reservation in admission to courses in the Kerala University of  Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos). A subject committee has already made recommendations in this regard and a decision would be made by the University Governing Council which will meet on July 27, Fisheries Minister K Babu informed the Assembly on Monday.

Responding to a calling attention motion by Hibi Eden, the minister said that the university has plans to set up a Centre of Excellence for Marine Biotechnology and Marine Bioprocessing by spending Rs 20 crore. The Fisheries University is currently getting financial aid from ICAR and Ministry of Earth Sciences. Attempts are being made to create teachers’ posts for UGC notification, the minister said.

Earlier raising the issue, Hibi Eden  stressed the need for taking steps to enhance the infrastructure facilities of Kufos. It is essential for starting new courses and formulating comprehensive plans for employment training and socio-cultural progress, he opined.

The minister said the university has plans to start four PG degree courses and three PG diploma courses during the 2014-15 academic year. An amount of Rs 3.22 crore has been earmarked for the same. Also there are plans to set up a Post-Graduate Department under the School of Management Studies at a cost of `5.65 crore, for international research and studies.  A Rs 8.95-crore business school is on the cards in addition to starting a MTech course in Coastal and Offshore Engineering under the School of Ocean Engineering by spending Rs 20 lakh, he added.

The university has diverse plans in the research front too. A Rs 6.33 crore project has been finalised for ocean research activities. As part of this project, an Animal health Management laboratory would be established at a cost of `56 lakh in association with the National Fisheries Development Board.

The minister said setting up a climate change study centre in the university is also in the pipeline. “Research projects to the tune of `357 crore have been submitted to various agencies for financial aid from state-central agencies outside the university for 2014-15 financial year,” Babu said.

The Kufos has plans to set up a Marine Innovation Zone and Industry Incubation Centre along with Kerala Life Sciences Park, he said.

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