Chennai, Sept 21:
Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan on Sunday appealed to parents and students not to panic, stating that dengue was not the cause of the recent death of an Anna University student.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating an exhibition on higher education opportunities in South Korea, Viswanathan said he had visited the Anna University campus following the student’s death. He said the medical report did not confirm that the student had died of dengue. He added that he had sought the student’s death report to ascertain the exact cause.
The minister said the government would take necessary steps to safeguard students’ health and directed universities to ensure a safe and hygienic environment on their campuses. He also instructed Anna University authorities to undertake cleaning and sanitation work.
The minister’s remarks came after a final-year Anna University student died of scrub typhus, amid concerns among students and parents over the spread of fever and dengue in Chennai.
Viswanathan said the student’s death was a matter of concern and stressed the need to take preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.
He also said the private universities Bill had been sent to the President for approval and assured that universities would not be privatised. He added that issues relating to fees could be discussed after the Bill receives approval.