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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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
