Director-in-Charge of JNMDA questions students on strike
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2020: The Director-in-Charge of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA), P Bilash has stated that he will personally support the agitation of the students of Manipur University of Culture (MUC) if they can prove that JNMDA, Government Music and Dance College are not recognised by the University Grant Commission (UGC).

Speaking to media persons at the JNMDA, the Director-in-Charge of the institute lamented that an issue about admission of students to the MA courses in Music and Dance subjects at Manipur University of Culture has been raging.

He stated that the demand of the students of MUC to allow admission of eligible students from the colleges under the university or other students possessing diplomas or degrees recognised by the UGC is unacceptable.

Reacting to the demand of MUC students that admission of students with degrees not recognised by the UGC should not be allowed in the university, he questioned if there is document of the UGC which says JNMDA and Manipur Music and Dance College are not recognised and certificates issued by these institutes are not valid.

If the protesting students can prove that these certificates are invalid, he is willing to extend all possible support from his end, he said.

He along with other renowned teachers like Hemolata, Padma Shri awardee Thourani Shabi and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Leimapokpam Lakhpati are part of the academic committee of the MUC, he said.

Since the establishment of the university, teachers from JNMDA have been helping in formulating syllabi for BA and MA courses and also extended all possible assistance in the formation of expert committees and at the time of recruiting examiners, he said.

JNMDA has nothing to do with the protest of the students of the MUC but the physical attack with chairs on teachers during the academic council meeting and chasing them away was very unfitting on the part of the agitating students, he said.

Such uncultured nature from the students of University of Culture was unexpected and appalling, he continued.

UGC does not mention anything about recognising or not recognising for admission process but clearly instructs concerned universities to set up its own eligibility criteria for admission to various courses.

Even Manipur University is inducting students' with diploma certificates issued by JNMDA and others who have completed graduate courses from Government and Government aided colleges, he said and asked why there should be an issue if these students are allowed admission in State's own Manipur University of Culture, he asked.

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