Vice Chancellor helps boy continue studies

COIMBATORE: Moved by the plight of a poverty-stricken boy whose certificates were confiscated by a private engineering college, the vice-chancellor of Anna University of Technology (Coimbatore), K Karunakaran, has come to his aid.In an exclusive report on on August 31, Express had highlighted the difficulty faced by M Adharsan, a 19-year-old boy hailing from Thondamuthur in getting back his certificates from the Ranganathan Engineering College. The boy had dropped out within months of enrolling due to abject poverty. The college had insisted that he pay the fees for the first year to get back his Plus Two mark sheet and transfer certificate.After reading the report, Karunakaran not only instructed authorities of the engineering college to return the certificates but also helped the boy get a free seat in another private institution.“While attending the inaugural function of the Sri Shanmuga College of Engineering and Technology in Salem, I explained the plight of the student to the chairman of the college, K Shanmugam, and requested him to help Adharsan. Immediately, he agreed to admit the boy and also bear the cost of education for the next four years. I have also instructed the Ranganathan Engineering College to return the original certificates without any delay,” Karunakaran told Express.On being informed of the development, Adharsan was excited. He immediately spoke to Karunakaran and thanked him as well as Shanmugam for the gesture. “He will get a seat in the Electronics and Communication Engineering branch itself,” the AUT vice-chancellor said.