Mangaluru holds candle light vigil seeking justice for 'Baby Nirbhaya'

[email protected] (CD Network | Photos by Suresh)

March 21, 2015

Mangaluru, Mar 21: Hundreds of Mangaluru citizens belonging to all sections of the society took out a silent candlelight march - 'Justice For Baby Nirbhaya' demanding swift justice for the three-and-half-year-old nursery student of Mangaluru One School who was sexually abused by a school van driver in Thokkottu on the outskirts of the city.

Holding candles, the citizens took out a march from Nehru Maidan to the deputy commissioner's office here on Saturday evening, silently protesting against the ghastly crime committed on a child.

As the dusk set in, candles were lit against the fading light as more citizens joined the silent and peaceful march.

After reaching the deputy commissioner's office, one of the spokespersons said that the intention of holding the candlelight match was to bring awareness on child sexual abuse and the child protection policy among schools and members of the society.

The peaceful protestors wanted the district administration to take serious cognisance of the crime and take stringent action against the school where the child was studying, as it did not follow the prescribed guidelines under the child protection policy or have any safety measures for the children.

State convenor of Campaign Against Child Labour Renni D'Souza, Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development coordinator Vidya Dinker, Centre for Integrated Learning director Sachita Nandagopal and members of several like-minded organisations participated in the candlelight march.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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