KILA to be made a Deemed University

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Efforts have begun to transform the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) into a Deemed University, probably the first in the country to come up with money from local governments. An Academic Committee, to be constituted in a few weeks, will prepare a detailed proposal for courses to be offered in the university to be submitted to the University Grants Commission (UGC).The government has asked all local bodies in the state to chip in to KILA’s corpus fund to realise the dream of transforming it into a Deemed University.From a mere training institute in local governance, KILA wants itself to excel in professional qualitative training in decentralisation and also offer research courses in the subject.The idea is to help local governments in local planning and development and come up with alternative technologies for strengthening local economy and offer specialised training in it. “During our talks with the UGC officials, we came to know that it is probably the first in the country to come up with people’s money. Decentralisation is a concept that many countries want to learn from us and we could teach a great deal in the matter banking on our experiences in the area. For that we need to emerge  as professionals and improve our quality in training,” said P P Balan, KILA Director, who will also be the special officer for the University until it gets running in three years.As part of the changes, KILA will organise a World Meet of Local Governments in Ernakulam from November 30 to December 2. This will be followed by an international conference on people’s participation.