Bifurcation blues haunt Telugu Akademi

Tirupati: Telugu Akademi, once a vibrant organisation, became non-functional since bifurcation of the State. The Akademi used to publish authentic textbooks on many subjects and for many classes from Intermediate to post-graduate students and for B.Ed and D.Ed other courses. By employing the services of senior most professors and teachers they used to conduct meetings to had fruitful discussions on syllabus at various levels. Students and competitive examination candidates used to consider Telugu Akademi books as authentic and reliable as far as the subject matter is concerned.

Highlights:

• After division of the State, Telangana government took over the Telugu Akademi head office building in Hyderabad and its press
• The authorities at Hyderabad are ready to print books if they were given the syllabus. But they did not get any orders from AP government

All this has become history as suddenly the Akademi has lost its importance as it is not publishing any books of late. After bifurcation of the State, Telangana government took over the Telugu Akademi head office building in Hyderabad and its press. The residuary state of AP was left with no head office nor press.

The government’s apathy in taking steps to revive the activities made things from bad to worse. The government was not taking any initiative in distributing the assets of Telugu Akademi which is in 10th schedule properties. The Department of Human resources, which is concerned with the Telugu Akademi, has never considered the Akademi activities leaving the students and candidates of competitive examinations to their fate.

The existing staff members of Telugu Akademi were left with absolutely no work for three years. The activities of conducting meetings, making the changes in syllabus, printing, sending the books to regional centres and other related works have virtually not taking place. Regional centres of Telugu Akademi were working nominally.

In Tirupati, only one regular employee is working and he locks the Akademi office and sitting outside the room as there was no work.

In the absence of Akademi books, students were forced to buy private books. They also became scarce and students have no choice but to spend Rs 2,000 to 3,000 on textbooks. For Intermediate students, the Akademi has not published any book this year. Board of Intermediate Education also did not show any interest in getting this issue solved. And the worst sufferers are the students.

There are two regional centres—Tirupati and Anantapur in Rayalaseema. One in-charge should supervise these two centres from Hyderabad. Presently Vijaya Bhaskar, a junior assistant was made in-charge for these centres. Speaking to The Hans India, he said the division of Telugu Akademi so far was not considered.

They are working under Telangana government. The authorities of Telugu Akademi at Hyderabad were ready to print books if they were given the syllabus. But they did not get any orders from AP government. No activity is being taken up on behalf of AP Telugu Akademi. There are around 25 employees belong to AP working in Telangana Telugu Akademi and some daily wage workers were also there.

By V Pradeep Kumar