Dhanamanjuri University Bill violates RUSA guidelines, says FEGOCTA
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 15 2015: Federation of Government College Teachers' Association (FEGOCTA), Manipur has alleged that the proposed Dhanamanjuri University Bill-2014 clearly violates the guidelines of Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), and it is also against the norms and procedures of the Cluster University.

According to a statement of FEGOCTA, 35 new cluster universities would be created during the current 12th Plan with an allocation of Rs.55 crore per university under RUSA.

The cluster university would be created by converting the existing affiliated government and government-aided colleges into a cluster within a radius of 15-20 kilometres with total land area of at least 25 acres.

All participating colleges should be NAAC accredited and should be the constituent colleges of the newly created university.

However, the design of the proposed Dhanamanjuri University looks like a government department with secrecy even at the stage of conceptualization with ample room for political and bureaucratic control.

The federation further said that violation of RUSA guidelines and norms of a cluster university would cause disturbance in future funding from the Ministry of Human Resource Development and other central funding agencies.

The State Government seems to have concern only for construction and recruitment.

FEGOCTA also questioned the State Government whether or not the motivating factors for the establishment of Dhanamanjuri University are only new recruitments and Rs.55 crore from the HRD Ministry.

The association further demanded that DM College of Science, DM College of Arts, DM College of Commerce, DM College of Teachers' Education, Hindi Teachers' Training Institute, GP Women's College and LMS Law College should be clearly mentioned as the constituent colleges and their undergraduate courses should continue under the proposed Dhanamanjuri University.

It also demanded that NAAC accredited Manipur College, Imphal College and Modern College which are within 15-20 kilometres should also be included as constituent colleges of Dhanamanjuri University for future growth and expansion.

The teachers' body further urged the State Government to provide service protection such as pay, pension and length of service of the government college teachers if they are selected as faculty members of Dhanamanjuri University for smooth transition.

FEGOCTA also said that the posts of Pro-Chancellor should be deleted and appointment of first Vice-Chancellor must be based on the recommendation of a search committee and term of the Registrar and Finance Officer should be fixed.

There should be Transitional Provisions and Students' Advisory Council along with inclusion of faculties/schools, departments and centres which are not in Manipur University and IGNTU-RC, Manipur, FEGOCTA added.

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