EAPCET office converted into women’s wellness facility, TGCHE intervenes

JNTU-Hyderabad’s decision to convert its EAPCET office into a waiting hall and wellness facility for women employees has raised confidentiality concerns. TGCHE Chairman Prof V Balakista Reddy has asked university officials to identify an alternative space for the facility

Hyderabad: The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University’s (JNTU) – Hyderabad decision to turn Telangana Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test (TG EAPCET) office on its campus into a women employees’ waiting hall and wellness facility has raised concerns over access to the confidential space.

The EAPCET office on the university campus handles sensitive examination and admissions-related information. The entry of outsiders will compromise the confidentiality of the examination and admission process.
The move comes at a time when the second round of admission counselling to the BSc Nursing programme has just concluded. Two or more rounds of counselling are likely to be conducted. Further, the admissions to BPharmacy have not been finalised yet.

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However, JNTU-Hyderabad Registrar Dr. A Jaya Laxmi allotted the EAPCET office for the use of women employees as a waiting hall/personal care and wellness facility. The university took this decision based on a request submitted by its women employees.
According to the circular issued by the Registrar on Monday, the facility is intended to provide a comfortable and private space for women employees to attend to their personal needs, take rest whenever required and avail themselves of a supportive environment during working hours. She asked women employees to make proper and responsible use of the facility.

According to sources, neither the EAPCET office nor TGCHE was kept in the loop before deciding on allotting the office space to women employees. This prompted the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) to intervene as the university holds the common entrance tests and other admission-related work on behalf of the council.
Speaking to ‘Telangana Today’, TGCHE Chairman Prof. V Balakista Reddy said he asked the university officials to identify an alternative space for women employees. “The EAPCET process will shortly commence. Since the EAPCET office handles confidential information, I asked the university to allot a separate space for women employees instead of the EAPCET office,” he added.