Morung Express News
Kohima | October 15
After spurning an opportunity to establish a premier research institute namely the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Nagaland is pursuing the matter again, but the endeavour is unproductive so far.
IISERs are institutes of national importance, accorded only to premier public higher education institutions in the likes of IITs, NITs etc. They are aimed at serving as a pivotal player in developing highly skilled personnel within the specified region of the country.
It is generally viewed that the establishment of such an institute could have revolutionised the course of science and research in the State, besides attracting students and researchers from other places.
It may be mentioned that the Union Government in the 2015-16 budget announced to establish two new IISERs for the State of Nagaland and Odisha. It is functioning in Odisha since 2016, but never materialised for Nagaland after the State Government asked for School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) instead.
IISER over SPA
Whether the decision was unilateral or ‘advised’ is unknown, but the end result is clear – neither the IISER nor the SPA was established in Nagaland.
However, a letter written by the then Chief Minister, TR Zeliang to Smriti Zubin Irani, the then Union Minister for the erstwhile Union Human Resource Development dated December 16, 2015, informed of the choice.
“Though the state of Nagaland has been selected for setting up of IISER, it is felt that the setting up of School of Planning and Architecture would benefit the state more” highlighted the letter accessed by The Morung Express.
Justifying the same, he maintained that Nagaland has no regional institute except for the North East Regional Multi-Disciplinary Para Medical Institute, attached to Christian Institute Of Health Sciences And Research (CIHSR) Dimapur, being run in partnership by the Government of Nagaland and the Christian Medical College, Vellore and Emmanuel Hospitals.
Noting that most of the regional institutes in the North-East are located either in Assam or Meghalaya, he highlighted that Dimapur being in the plains, is well connected with the other states by road, rail and air.
He also assured that the State Government is willing to give the required land for setting up of SPA adding that since there is no such school or institute in the NER at present.
Meanwhile, present Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio told the Seventh Meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on August 7, 2022 that the IISER sanctioned for Nagaland never fructified, rather the Ministry of Education (then MHRD) advised State Government to make a request for establishment of SPA. But both were not sanctioned.
Contending that the establishment of IISER is long pending and needs urgent consideration by the Government of India, Rio maintained that it would not only fulfil the Union Budget Commitment but also promote national integration and create a national asset for the whole NER.
IISER project de-sanctioned
However, during the recently concluded Assembly session on September 22, Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio informed that the IISER project was ‘de-sanctioned’ due to lapse of time.
He further informed that this project was sanctioned during 2015-16 when he was in the Parliament, and the State Government had already purchased 200 acres of land for this project.
On the issue of SPA over IISER, he commented: “At that time what wisdom I don’t know but they preferred for other schemes, that also we were denied, and due to the time lapse IISER project was de-sanctioned.”
Rio informed that he pursued the matter when he took over again ‘but it’s not getting approved.’
Even as this matter is being re-pursued, it was learnt from a reliable source that there is no fresh proposal to set up IISER in Nagaland.
A great disservice to people
Meanwhile, the whole issue is considered a disservice to the citizen.
“By failing to implement Nagaland IISER, the State Government has done a great disservice to its people” said an independent researcher.
Describing IISER as a premier institute which would have taken the State forward in the field of science and research, he remarked: “The magnitude of such a monumental loss is too great to measure and only history will weigh in with its judgment as to under whose watch such a rare opportunity was squandered.”
The public must question those in power as to why such a premier public institute could not be established, he opined, adding that, “This is just one among many failed projects in the state.”
Presently, there are seven IISERs across the country – Kolkata in West Bengal, Pune in Maharashtra, Mohali in Punjab, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh and Berhampur in Odisha.
