Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | March 16
Although thirteen years have gone with the wind of agitations marring Nagaland University, the coming years is likely to usher in a new era of development as it promises to launch numerous programme and institutions in the next Five Year Plan.
Varsity Vice Chancellor Prof. Kannan appeared to be doing a tough talk around these days, when queried as to how it would shoulder so many projects at a go, when in the last thirteen years the university could do so little. Not only at the Thursday Convocation programme did he boast of the bulks of projects that are likely to come up in the near future, but Prof. Kannan even told the Press once at his office chamber that all these would become a reality.
To cite some of the few from the numerous promises, it is said that the UGC has given approval for M. Phil and Ph. D programmes by providing scholarship of Rs 3000 and Rs 5000 pm respectively in addition to its contingency grants. It’s Lumami headquarter, which has already consumed thirteen long years so far may take another one year to be fully functional in all aspects.
Hotline for all the three campuses, video conferencing facilities, ICT facilities, knowledge connectivity and market connectivity are in the offing. Plans to promote Green technologies in all the campuses and affiliated colleges are also already there, Prof. Kannan said.
In the 11th Five Year plan, Women Studies Centre, Medical College, Nursing College, Institute of Tourism and hotel Management, Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Public administration, Institute of Medical Technology, Department of Music, Arts, Department of fashion technology and Institute of Intangible Heritage of Tribals are in the pipeline said the Vice Chancellor. Soon the detailed project report will be prepared for all of these, Prof. Kannan added.
Besides, the post graduate programme in bioinformatics and ICT educational technology with NIIT Delhi; Post graduate biotechnology Programme as well as biotechnology as a subject at the undergraduate level and improvement of laboratories facilities are in.
For the first time in thirteen years, the University has managed to utilize all the funds provided by the UGC under 10th Five Year Plan for all the three campuses.
The affiliated colleges have also increased from 48 with faculty strength of 906, it says.
However, the University may not be able to breathe freely still, as there are reportedly many disgruntled teaching and non-teaching staffs, who are at loggerhead with the VC on several issues. Some staffs are defiant and belligerent in their approach. This could possibly pose as a hurdle in smooth execution of plan projects, NU insider disclosed.
Nagaland University could have been different today, however, its poor spending capability in the past years have taken time for the varsity to bloom. It is learnt that the UGC has complained to the NU of not spending even the annual allocated budget in the past years.
“The UGC is willing to give any amount. They are saying that we are not spending enough”, Prof. Kannan disclosed at one of the press conference recently.
In the 10th Five Years Plan, the amount received by the Varsity oscillates between Rs 70-80 Crore. However, the University budget is likely to soar by double in the Eleventh Five Year plan. Earlier, each department received about Rs 1 crore, but by this year it may be enhanced to Rs 5 crore each. The University has 25 departments till date.
Thirteen years of its existence has been dogged by series of agitations launched by teaching faculty over the appointment of two former vice chancellors, Prof. I Yanger and Prof. GD Sharma. Despite of the heavy protest Prof. Yanger pulled through his tenure, however, Prof. GD Sharma was forced to quit his chair by the agitating Nagaland University Teachers’ Association and Post Graduate Students’ Union.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who addressed the 2nd Convocation on Thursday, broke his silence over the Varsity and blamed lack of infrastructures and agitations by teaching faculty for its delayed development. He expressed hope that such agitations will not hamper the development of the University.
Morung Express News
