DESAM reiterates its demand to establish a full fledged NSU, urges Govt to take pro active step
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 04 2018:
The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has urged the State Government to take up proactive step to develop a full fledged National Sports University in Manipur in terms of manpower requisition and infrastructure development on a time bound manner.
A press release issued by president of DESAM, Salam Akash further urged the Govt to halt the ongoing process of opening off/outlying campuses of NSU Manipur in various states by utilising State's resources, in order to save the long awaited university from becoming a namesake university.
The students' union also hinted that the alleged attempts made by the Government machineries to subdue the rightful demands of the people by allegedly arresting student leaders unwarranted, will only enhance the ongoing issue.
It pointed out that a public discussion organised by DESAM on May 27 at Manipur Olympic Association conference hall resolved to ban the establishment of off campuses of NSU Manipur until a full fledged National Sports University, in terms of infrastructure and manpower is established in the State and also demanded to cancel the scheduled interview for the Lucknow campus to be held on June 11.It also demanded to appoint a VC, Registrar, Controller of Examination, requisite faculties and supporting staff on a "Regular" basis in which all should be stationed at Imphal.
The discussion also demanded to avail details of the courses to be opened in NSU in Manipur and in other outlying campuses and a copy of the DPR.
The people of Manipur were overwhelmed when the Central Govt in 2014 announced the establishment of National Sports University (NSU), Manipur based on the overall performance and contributions of sportspersons in Manipur in their first 100 days programmes.
The Central Govt has partially fulfilled the aspiration of the people when NSU in Manipur was made functional by starting two courses namely a Degree course in Physical Education arid a Degree course in Coaching, in an off season from January 15 (with a Dean, five Asst Profs on contract basis and 26 students from all over the country).
"Till date, NSU is a Central University run exclusively by contract staff on a make shift campus with its VC (i/c) too sitting at Delhi" DESAM asserted while pointing out that none of the important facilities are developed in the assigned campus and none including Registrar and Dean of the University and high officials under the State Govt have a clear information about the facilities to be developed in Manipur.
A non-priority Degree course in Physical Education which has been existing in Manipur since 1988 was added to increase the list of courses available and the same is running as the main course in the NSU, it added.
"The UGC has yet to give a formal approval on 4 years Degree course in Coaching.
An ordinance to open a NSU in Manipur was approved by the Union cabinet only on May 24 and the same has been approved by the President of India" it said.
The students' union further claimed that when the main campus is not even in existence, the management body of NSU has already decided to have three outlying campuses, one each at Lucknow, Mohali and Gwalior, utilising the budget earmarked for NSU Manipur.
The backbone of the university, the Department of Sport Sciences (Sports Performance Analysis) and two more important courses namely postgraduate course in Sports Management and Diploma in Sports Journalism will be established at Lucknow as per the walk-in-interview advertisement.
A National level Sports University without the facility of sports sciences is comparable to establishment of a science college without science laboratories, it added.
Decrying the process of developing off campuses by utilising the sanctioned budget of NSU Manipur, establishing as an off campuses, in other states, of a yet to be established university like NSU Manipur is highly objectionable.
The people in Manipur would also want to ask the NSU authority as why the interviews for appointment of staff including faculty members for National Sports University, Manipur are conducted at Kolkata, Delhi and Lucknow and not in Imphal.
DESAM further urged the State Govt to develop National Sports University as "Hotspot" for competitive sports tourism in the larger interest of the people and Manipur.