Avinashilingam University should not be made a self-financed institution, PMK chief S. Ramadoss said, on Saturday.

Talking to the reporters here, the PMK chief said that the management was taking steps to convert the university from an aided to a self-financed institution. “The faculty and the students have also protested for the institution to remain as a public funded institution because, otherwise, the fee will be increased,” he said.

Describing the varsity as a traditional university that was serving the poor, Ramadoss said that the founding principle of the university would collapse if it is made a self-financed one. “The university was started to serve the poor and develop the womenfolk of rural Coimbatore. Hence, it is imperative that the university remains a public funded university,” he added. He advised the trust to come forward and comply with the UGC guidelines.

About the dumping of medical wastes by Kerala in Coimbatore, he said that a permanent solution should be found. “The people of Madukkarai seized a vehicle from Kerala that was trying to dump medical wastes last week. The police personnel should also step up surveillance at the checkposts and arrest the culprits,” he opined.