VTU probes complaints of firms demanding money from students for internships
Bengaluru: Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has launched an inquiry after students alleged that some companies empanelled with the varsity for internships are demanding money, including fees for issuing internship completion certificates.
The allegations have raised serious concerns, particularly as companies offering internships are required to pay stipends to students, as reported by Deccan Herald. Acting on the complaints, VTU has constituted a team to verify the claims. The panel has been directed to visit the companies named by students and submit a detailed report based on its findings.
Several students have complained that when they approached firms listed on VTU’s official portal, they were told that payment was mandatory to secure an internship. One student said a company representative clearly stated that money would have to be paid even before onboarding.
VTU has made a six-month internship compulsory for all undergraduate engineering students. While students are required to complete it in either the seventh or eighth semester, it carries nine academic credits.
A senior VTU official said the university tightened its internship norms after instances of students submitting fake completion certificates to colleges. To curb such practices, VTU mandated that internships be done only with companies registered with the university and launched an online portal for the purpose. More than 2,500 companies are currently listed on the platform as providers of paid internships.
Placement officers from private engineering colleges have confirmed that complaints from students about companies seeking money have been formally conveyed to the university.
According to a report published by DH, S. Vidyashankar , VTU Vice-Chancellor acknowledged receiving the complaints and said strict action would follow if the allegations were proven. He said companies found charging students would be blacklisted and barred from participating in any VTU programmes in the future.
The vice-chancellor said the university had also received complaints about students failing to attend internships regularly and that the VTU team will also check attendance records during visits to companies.
Vidyashankar said nearly 85,000 students become eligible for internships every year which made it difficult to ensure opportunities for all. He said VTU plans to hold discussions with industry representatives to increase the number of paid internships and would seek government intervention.
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₹4.5 lakh, foreign currency found with Kerala beggar after death
Thiruvananthapuram: More than ₹4.5 lakh in cash, including banned ₹2,000 notes and foreign currency, was recovered from a beggar who died following a road accident in Alappuzha district, police said.
According to a report published by NDTV on Thursday, the man, who was a familiar figure in Charummoot and surrounding areas, met with an accident on Monday night and sustained injuries. Local residents rushed him to a nearby hospital for treatment.
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However, without sharing much information with anyone, the man left the hospital on his own. As per hospital records, the man said his name was Anil Kishore, police said.
On Tuesday morning, Kishore was found dead outside a shop in the area. His body was shifted to a hospital for post-mortem examination. A container found near the body was taken to the police station for inspection.
When it was opened in the presence of local panchayat member Philip Umman, officials found a large sum of money inside.
Police said the container held more than ₹4.5 lakh in cash, including banned ₹2,000 currency notes and foreign currency. The money was reportedly stored inside plastic tins.
According to local residents, Kishore used to beg daily for food expenses, and no one suspected he was carrying such a large amount of money. Panchayat member Philip Umman said the discovery shocked people in the area.
Police said the cash would be handed over to the court, whether or not any family members of the man come forward to claim it.
