Rising demand spurs new girls-only colleges in Dakshina Kannada: Report
Mangaluru: Amid rising demand from minority communities in Dakshina Kannada district, the Karnataka government has approved two new girls-only colleges in Mangaluru’s Ullal constituency.
The Department of Minorities has sanctioned Rs 17 crore for a new education complex between Konaje and Pajir. The facility will cater to girls from Class 1 through degree level, serving both residential and day scholars, as reported by The New Indian Express on Wednesday.
Additionally, the Waqf Department will develop a pre-university (PU) girls' college in Ullal town. Both institutions will follow a 75:25 reservation ratio for minority and non-minority students, respectively.
In Derlakatte, a government PU college that was previously co-educational was converted into a girls-only institution last academic year. The shift followed complaints of disruptive behaviour from some boys and low male enrolment; only 41 of the 91 students enrolled in 2022–23 were boys. The College Development Committee, led by MLA UT Khader, proposed the change, which was supported by parents, added the report.
Officials and educators quoted by the news outlet link the rising demand for girls-only colleges to sociocultural factors, particularly in the wake of the 2022 Hijab controversy. A significant number of parents, especially from the Muslim community, have expressed reservations about co-educational institutions, citing concerns over safety, early marriage pressures, and cultural sensitivities.
Government-run women’s colleges reportedly have a 25–30% Muslim enrolment rate, substantially higher than in co-educational government colleges.
This broader demand has shaped government policy. The Karnataka state budget has announced the establishment of 15 women’s colleges on vacant Waqf lands in 2024-25, with 16 more scheduled for the following year.
Defending the decision to expand girls-only institutions, Khader highlighted community needs and the importance of empowering women through education. “I can’t force families to send their daughters to co-ed colleges. These new institutions are being set up to address real demand on the ground,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
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Pune airport runway restored after IAF aircraft snag; ops resume
Pune (PTI): The runway at Pune airport, which was temporarily unavailable due to an incident involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft, has now been restored and declared operational, the Air Force said on Saturday.
The authorities at the Pune International Airport had earlier said that around 10.25 pm on Friday, a fighter aircraft experienced an undercarriage failure during landing, causing the runway to be blocked.
As many as 91 flights of airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa, and Air India Express, were affected due to the incident, they said.
Earlier on Friday night, the Air Force had stated that the runway at Pune airport was temporarily unavailable following an incident involving one of its fighter aircraft. The aircrew are safe, and there is no damage to civil property, it had said.
"The runway at Pune Airport, which was temporarily unavailable due to an incident involving an Indian Air Force aircraft, has now been restored and declared operational. All necessary safety inspections and clearances have been completed. Operations are resuming in a phased manner," it said in a post on X.
Flight operations at Pune airport are being gradually restored. The situation has been brought under control with the highest priority given to the safety of citizens, a Defence PRO said.
