Bengaluru: While debate grows over the Centre’s proposal to ease provisions making it mandatory for educational institutions to have playgrounds as part of an ease of doing business (EoDB) push, higher education minister MC Sudhakar insisted the clause will stay. Under the deregulation proposal, the state govt may be empowered to ease or relax several requirements for private higher education institutions through official notification. These include minimum land requirements — whether purchased, rented or leased — needed to set up private universities or colleges. The proposal allows relaxation of infrastructure norms such as playgrounds, laboratories, equipment, classroom sizes, built-up areas, computers, libraries and book requirements. But Sudhakar told TOI: “National Assessment and Accreditation Council inspects sports facilities, and our educational institutes will stand to lose out if we remove the clause making playgrounds mandatory.” He said even the state govt mandates playgrounds. “For instance, when institutes approach the department for additional intake permissions, we mandate that 1.5 acres of land be set aside for sports. This has been a rule for at least seven years. Some institutes build new campuses, while others shift to larger spaces. But, without additional land for sports, requests for increased intake are refused.” Meanwhile, the urban development department is examining a proposal from the Centre, which identifies 23 priority areas and five optional areas for deregulation. Sources say one option being considered is rooftop playgrounds. “However, unlike in China for example, our institutes are not spread out enough to have such facilities. These require about 3,000 to 4,000 sqft of contiguous space,” Sudhakar said. In addition, the Centre suggests the state may relax norms related to minimum security deposits or endowment funds required from private higher education institutions. Another provision under consideration is to allow institutions to share facilities with govt or private entities. Under such arrangements, colleges could use common infrastructure including playgrounds, libraries and computer labs on a payment or cost-sharing basis. Officials from the urban development department said the relaxation of such norms is being examined as part of the broader EoDB initiative. However, any relaxation of standards relating to land and infrastructure would require consultation with relevant authorities, as these norms are currently governed by sectoral regulations and planning standards.
