Guwahati, Oct. 13 : The All Assam Students’ Union has decided to launch a mass movement to force New Delhi to accord top priority to setting up national-level institutes in the state.
AASU adviser Sammujjal Bhattacharyya told this correspondent that the students’ union would raise the demand as part of Clause 7 of the Assam Accord. He said after 25 years of the accord, the Centre had so far set up only two national-level institutes — IIT Guwahati and Tezpur University — in the state, defeating the spirit of the agreement.
“According to a conservative estimate, the state loses around Rs 200 crore annually as students go out to pursue higher studies. There were several examples in the past when poor meritorious students could not go out due to financial constraints. The AASU will not let it happen. If the Centre does not give a positive response to the issue at the earliest, we will launch a mass movement from next month,” Bhattacharyya said.
He said the union would not only launch the agitation in Assam but also go to New Delhi to raise the issue there, including in front of Parliament. He said the union would also pressure Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha, and all the MPs from the state to concede to the demand. Educational institutions and academicians will also participate in the movement.
“The ministry of human resource development had decided to set up Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) to provide quality science education to under-graduate and post-graduate students. The prime focus is to integrate science education and research with the aim of attracting bright students and world-class faculty. AASU has already met the scientific adviser of the Prime Minister C.N.R. Rao and placed the demand for an IISER. Considering the seven northeastern states, Guwahati must get an IISER to create a scientific temper and pool of scientists,” Bhattacharyya said, adding that the Centre must also set up an Indian Institute of Information Technology in the state.
AASU general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi said the state had missed the opportunity of having an Indian Institute of Management, but Meghalaya managed to get one a few years ago.
He said as the Centre would set up more IIMs in the country, Assam must not miss the opportunity this time and AASU would lobby with the HRD ministry.
Bhattacharyya said AASU would also start an agitation to force Dispur to introduce professional and job-oriented courses in colleges and universities.
He said Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University and Assam Agriculture University must get Rs 100 crore each to introduce such courses, recruit quality faculty and improve academic facilities.
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