Student bodies strongly react against failure to convert DMU into full-fledged university
caution of series of agitation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 09 2023:
Six prominent student organisations of Manipur namely MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK, AIMS and another student body reacted strongly against the Education Minister Thounaojam Basantakumar and Commissioner Higher and Technical Education Gyan Prakash over 'the failure of converting Dhanamanjuri University into a full-fledged university for the list five years since its inception' .
A joint press release issued by the presidents of the student bodies alleged that due to overall callousness and non-sending of the list of bonafide teaching and non-teaching staff to the University Grants Commission, the University is yet to be qualified for the acquisition of 12 (B) status of UGC as per the provisions of UGC 1956 Regulation without which it cannot be recognised as a full-fledged university.
As a result of not acquiring 12 (B) UGC status, DM University is consequently not qualified to acquire funding and overall development support.
Moreover, the JRF holders, NET qualified and non-NET PhD Research Scholars have been denied their rightful access to scholarships and relevant stipends, the student bodies lamented.
It may be noted that DM University was established under Dhanamanjuri University Act, 2017 and came into force on April 6, 2018 .
The student bodies further expressed that the State Government has been either delaying or showing lackadaisical attitude to the cause of DM University despite repetitive appeals by the students' and teachers' communities, they alleged.
They expressed concern that the result of the delay has put the university and students' degrees/career at the risk of being deligitimized in the absence of a proper procedural fulfilment of a university as per the relevant norms The students bodies went on to highlight the plights of the varsity which include non-appointment of a regular Registrar, Regular Finance Officer and Regular Controller of Examination.
They maintained that 'the adhocism in running a university for five years is nothing less than a derogation of the basic educational rights of students in Manipur' .
They further stated that in-charge functionaries of DM University who come from Civil Services (IAS Officers) are already pre-occupied with multiple Departmental responsibilities which leads to aggravating administrative lapses and delaying of University's progression.
The callousness of the DMU authority is further accentuated due to the non-declaration of the results of Assistant Professors and other key posts without providing any valid reasons.
In view of the aforementioned issues, the Minister of Education, the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Vice- Chancellor have been apprised to initiate steps towards safeguarding university's common welfare without any further delay so that the frequent disturbance to academic atmosphere in DM Campus, particularly the Post-Graduate courses be avoided.
The six students' organisations also cautioned of a series of agitation if the State government fails to intervene to resolve the pending issues in the larger interest of the state.
They also appealed to all sections of the society to co-operate and extend solidarity to the cause of DM University towards a full-fledged University.
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