Grants distributed to Aided & Private Colleges
Lack of education leads to crimes in society: Okendro
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 16 2013: Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro has observed that lack of education is one of the main reasons for the various crimes in the society.

The Minister was speaking as Chief Guest of the Capital and Lump-Sum Grant Distribution Function to three selected Aided and six Private Colleges of the state at the Conference Hall of Directorate of Higher Education here today.

The three Aided Colleges, namely, Waikhom Mani Girls' College (Thoubal); Moreh College (Moreh in Chandel district) and Biramangol College (Sawombung) have been respectively given a cheque of Rs 20 lakh each as grant while cheque amount of Rs 2.5 lakh each were handed over to the four private colleges namely Yairipok Universal College (Yairipok), TS Paul Women's College (Mongsangei), Regional College (Lilong) and Naorem Birahari College (Khundrakpam.

However, Mount Everest College (Senapati) and Asuffi Christian Institute (Mao) were provided cheque amount of Rs 5 lakh each as lump-sum grant.

Education Minister Okendro handing over the grant-in-aid

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Okendro informed that the total grant amount for 12 selected Aided Colleges is Rs 60 lakh as per the budget allocation.

However, the grant amount is being distributed to only three aided colleges for the first phase so that they can properly utilise the amount for some developmental works, which in turn would help in developing the education system in the state.

The Minister further said that he came to know that many of the private colleges are facing many difficulties in acquiring lump-sum grant amount of Rs 50,000 or Rs 1 lakh from the government.

So, the grant distribution function has been organised to provide the grant in aids and lump-sum grants to the aided as well as private colleges.

Stating that the State Government is planning to make Manipur an independent state in the field of education in the coming years, the Minister maintained that the Chief Minister is also taking keen interest in developing the education sector.

The government is also discussing to increase the budget allocation for education from the financial year 2013-14, the Minister disclosed, while appealing to the people to extend their full cooperation in developing education sector to its fullest.

Repairing and renovation of roads can delay a bit but education, which is the backbone of the society, cannot wait because it is a continuing process.

In order to bring about development in the state, it is very much needed to update the education system and technologies relating to education, he noted.

Minister Okendro also pointed out that the role of teachers in bringing about development in the education sector is very important.

It is not that teachers of the state are less efficient but it is the improper utilisation of the teachers which has hampered the education system in the state.

Furthermore, the Minister disclosed that the government is planning to convert the aided colleges into government colleges taking into consideration of some eligibility criteria under Rashtriya Uchchatar Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

As per the scheme, Centre will bear 90 percent of the total expenditure required while State Government will have to meet a minimal share of 10 percent.

Aided Colleges with 2000 to 3000 students would be given priority for conversion under the scheme, he added.

He also appealed to the Governing Bodies of the Colleges to follow the laid down guidelines while recruiting teachers in their respective colleges and refrain from constructing halls with funds from UGC without the approval of government committee.

In this regard, the state government has requested the UGC not to allow such constructions in the colleges without the recommendation of the committee.

Even if the college authority wanted to construct halls or buildings, they should construct hostels for students coming from far flung areas, the Minister suggested.

MLA Alexandre Pao, MLA Dikho and Commissioner of Higher and Technical Education Vaiphei were also present as dais members of the function organised by Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Manipur.