However, in this process, the actual motive of providing quality education to all took the backseat as the focus of universities slowly shifted to making more and more money. As of now, the Distance Education wings are generating the maximum revenue for their universities, in many cases more than even the professional and self-financing courses.

Therefore, the authorities of the universities running distance-education courses should ensure that these institutions of higher learning do not get reduced to degree-distributing institutes. For this, quality education should be provided through distance-learning programmes.

Then, in case of research-based study programmes being run through distance education, provision should be made for proper laboratory as well as library facilities for the students in coordination with other universities, educational and research institutes.

Since no university can survive or function in isolation, any university starting new correspondence courses should go ahead in cooperation with other universities running similar academic programmes or located in the same region.

It would rather be more appropriate if an inter-university body is set up by the UGC or the government to monitor the distance-education programmes run by different universities and to ensure smooth progress thereof.

Such body can even be entrusted with the job of formulating a well-defined policy in this regard and laying down norms governing various aspects of distance education.

And, no university should be allowed to function in an autocratic manner, be it starting of new correspondence courses or deciding on whether or not to permit its faculty members from guiding the "outside" research scholars. Because it is ultimately the students who have to suffer because of the decisions taken by the university authorities. And to safeguard the interests of the students the future of the nation--it is high time that the State steps in.