Govt apathy disappoints Ukhrul students
Source: The Sangai Express / Addie Chiphang
Ukhrul, April 01 2011:
The Students' Union of Pettigrew College (SUPC), Ukhrul and Ukhrul Students Union (HKL) have expressed strong reservations over prolonged negligence of the State Government towards infrastructural developments of Pettigrew College.
While speaking at a press conference, SUPC secretary AS Perminas flayed Government's indifferent attitude to the grievances of the students of the college.
He warned that the students would initiate intense agitation if the State Government maintains silence in this regard.
Alleging that the Government is unable to give equal treatment to Pettigrew College with other Government colleges of other districts the secretary said that the lone college in the district headquarters is in a desolate condition since past many years.
He added that deplorable condition of the college hampers academic atmosphere and it is tantamount to denial of Right to Education.
Taking part in the press conference, Ukhrul Students Union (HKL) president Godfry Zingkhai said that various infrastructural developmental programmes have gone to the dogs.
Elaborating further, he said the boys hostel was handed over to the college authority without even completing 70 percent of the works.
Moreover, no UGC programmes ever reach the colleges of the district, he said and added that it is an insult to the students of the district.
A Lecturer of the college on the condition of anonymity observed that it would be far better if Pettigrew College is run by the private firms or NGOs.
SUPC secretary AS Perminas informed the reporters that some of the Lecturers are absent throughout the year despite the lack of faculty members in the college.
Besides, there are no Lecturers in many streams and subjects and these are made up by Contract Lecturers in subjects like Sociology, Zoology and Ecology etc in Classes XI and XII, he added.
AS Perminas said, out of 46 Lecturers, 18 regular, 17 par-time and the rest are guest Lecturers.
However, only 2 to 3 Lecturers are attending the college at present, he informed and added that it needs serious and immediate retrospection from the authority concerned.
Although there is shortage of classrooms and library as well, the college has a total strength of over 294 students.
However, very few students are attending the classes at present, AS Perminas added.
Maintaining further, he said that power supply is a complete failure and the college has been running without electricity since past seven months.
Water supply has been cut off since last three months and the hostellers are facing the brunt of water scarcity.