MLA picks holes in DM university Bill, ILPS or similar Bill to be tabled
Session extended by two days, four Bills passed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 03 2015 : As decided by the State Cabinet yesterday, the ongoing session of Manipur Legislative Assembly has been extended by two days so that the Bill for protection of indigenous people and regulation of immigration can be tabled and passed by the House.

The ongoing Assembly session was earlier scheduled to be adjourned today.

However, taking due note of the mounting pressure from civil society organisations particularly JCILPS against the Government's failure to table a Bill for protection of indigenous people in the State Assembly, the Business Advisory Committee held a meeting in the Speaker's chamber this morning and decided to extend the ongoing session by two more days.

The BAC's decision was conveyed to all members of the House by Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also the leader of the House.

He also gave a detailed clarification on the Government's failure to table the Bill in time.

Campus of DM College

Earlier ahead of the BAC's meeting, a CLP meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi was held at around 10 am.

The meeting adopted a decision to table the particular Bill in the House after obtaining consensus of all CLP members.

The ongoing session will be resumed on March 13 and it will be adjourned on March 16 .

The Bill would be tabled in the House on March 13 and it would be passed on March 16 if there is no objection, Ibobi stated on the floor of the House today.

It took sometime for the Government to prepare the Bill as it is a money Bill which requires approval of the Governor.

The ongoing session has been scheduled to resume from March 13 so that the Governor has time to consult legal experts about the Bill, Ibobi added.

Meanwhile, the State Assembly today passed four Bills.

The first three Bills are for establishment of three new universities in the State while the fourth Bill is about construction of ropeway at Sendra for introduction of cable car service.

Manipur Ropeway Bill 2015 and Manipur University of Culture Bill 2015 were tabled in the House by the Chief Minister who is also in charge of Tourism as well as Art and Culture Departments whereas Dhanamanjuri University Bill 2015 and Sangai International University Manipur Bill 2015 were introduced by Education Minister M Okendro.

Dr I Ibohalbi, Samuel Risom and Kh Joykisan were the Opposition MLAs who debated the Bills.

Taking part in the discussion on Dhanamanjuri University, Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency MLA Kh Joykishan said that the proposal of the Government to set up Dhanamanjuri University by clubbing five colleges violates the guidelines of RUSA. Quoting from the guidelines of RUSA, the MLA said that such universities should be created by pooling the resources of 3 to 5 colleges that have adequate academic, physical and technical infrastructural facilities.

The proposal of the Government to pool seven colleges, that is DM College of Arts, DM College of Science, DM College of Commerce, DM College of Teacher Education, DM College of Hindi Teachers' Training Institute/College, LMS Law College and GP Women's College is in excess of the suggested number of 3 to 5 colleges.

The MLA also picked holes with the suggestion of the Government that the teachers of the said colleges shall be reverted to the Department of Higher Education and the teachers of the proposed university will be appointed afresh as per UGC norms by the authority of the university.

Referring to an Orissa Gazette, the MLA said that the local MLA was named as a member of the Executive Council of a private university.

However no such clause has been mentioned in the move to set up Dhanamanjuri University.

While debating the Bills, Ibobi stated that cable car service would be first introduced over a distance of about 4 Kms between Sendra and Chaoba Hill of Thanga before it is extended up to Karang islet.

The project which would be implemented under PPP model has already obtained due forest and environmental clearance.

One firm based in Thailand evinced keen desire to invest in this particular project but they have changed their mind after the country was brought under military rule, Ibobi informed the House.

Talking about the proposed Manipur University of Culture, Ibobi stated that the Government has been planning to set up the university for the time being at the campuses of Art College, State Academy and Art & Culture office.

Education Minister M Okendro stated that a sum of Rs 55 crore has been earmarked for establishment of Dhanamanjuri University.

O Ibobi suggested the House to make the Governor of the State Chancellor of Dhanamanjuri University in place of the Chief Minister.