MLA Prasada Abbayya has urged the Karnataka government to sanction a new government polytechnic college exclusively for women in Hubballi to meet the surging demand for technical education.
- MLA Prasada Abbayya requested a dedicated women's polytechnic college in Hubballi.
- Existing colleges face massive application surges, far exceeding seat capacity.
- The State Government has promised to assess demand through comprehensive data.
In a significant move to bolster technical education for women, Prasada Abbayya, the Hubballi-Dharwad East MLA and Chairman of the Karnataka Slum Development Board, has formally requested the State government to sanction a new government polytechnic college exclusively for women in Hubballi. The demand comes in response to the rapidly increasing number of female students seeking vocational training after completing their Class X studies.
Raising the issue through a starred question in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Abbayya highlighted critical gaps in the current educational infrastructure. He cited data provided by Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi, which revealed that for the 2025-26 academic year, Karnataka possesses 109 government, 43 aided, and 135 private polytechnic colleges. While the total sanctioned intake stands at 72,057, only 46,136 seats were filled, leaving a significant vacancy of 25,921 seats across the state.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that while state-wide vacancies exist, the localized demand in urban hubs like Hubballi creates a unique bottleneck. The shortage of gender-specific technical institutions prevents young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds from entering high-growth industries, thereby widening the gender gap in the technical workforce.
Mr. Abbayya pointed out that in Hubballi city alone, 9,923 students passed the SSLC examination this academic year, including 4,813 girls. He expressed grave concern over the increasing commercialization of education, noting that students from economically weaker sections are being systematically deprived of technical opportunities due to a lack of affordable, local options.
Bridging the gap between academic qualification and technical skill is essential for the socio-economic upliftment of women in Karnataka.
The shortage of seats is starkly evident in the application numbers. The existing women's polytechnic college in Hubballi, which has a capacity of 300 seats, received over 650 applications. Similarly, another polytechnic college with a 250-seat capacity saw approximately 750 applicants. This overwhelming demand underscores the urgent need for expansion.
Polytechnic Infrastructure Overview
| College Category | Number of Institutions |
|---|---|
| Government | 109 |
| Aided | 43 |
| Private | 135 |
A key concern raised by the MLA is the reluctance of parents to send their daughters to distant districts or rural areas, even when seats are available. To transform Hubballi-Dharwad into a premier educational hub, he emphasized that local access is non-negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the main reason for the demand for a new college?
The high number of female SSLC graduates and the massive surge in applications for existing limited seats.
2. How has the government responded to the MLA's request?
The Higher Education Minister assured that a decision will be made after a thorough assessment of the demand and seat availability data.
