Sahasrabudhe appeals to Sharad Pawar to help in getting aid.
“The Union ministry recently granted Rs100 crore to educational institutions completing 100 years of existence. We are 150 years old and hence, we should be given Rs150 crore for development,’’ urged Anil Sahasrabudhe, director of College of Engineering, Pune (CoEP) in a lighter vein.
He was addressing an event to mark the restoration of CoEP’s 150-year-old heritage main building where Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar was present on Saturday. Although Pawar promised to try his best to get the funds, he was quick to point out that normally, such requests are made before the budget and not after the budget is passed.
Stating that although the CoEP has been receiving support from the state government for its development, Sahastrabuddhe urged Pawar to ensure that the central government too steps in to help the country’s second oldest engineering college.
Stating that the college needs Rs280 crore to fulfill its plans of a new library, IT department, computer building and new hostels, Sahastrabuddhe appealed to Pawar to urge his colleagues in New Delhi and get funds sanctioned.
Replying to the director’s appeal, Pawar promised to try his best. “While, I will try to help, I would like to suggest that you may have missed the boat. Such requests should come to us in February,’’ said Pawar adding that institutes should not only looked towards government for funds but also forge partnerships with the private sector.
He said that he had approached Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee with a list of eight agricultural universities that have received central funding in this budget, he asked CoEP officials to approach him in
February 2013.
He also asked youngsters to focus on innovations, research and entrepreneurship asking students to develop cost effective user friendly end solutions.
Pawar had youngsters in splits when he recalled his college days in Pune.
“I spent more time at CoEP boat club than my college lectures. I deduce from your laughs that times haven’t changed. My college cricket team never lost a match except to CoEP. Since then, I had a grudge against CoEP. Since nearly 20% ministers are engineers, there is unnecessary competition from engineers even in politics now,’’ Pawar joked.
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