Imphal, December 04: Government neglect and apathy has taken a heavy toll on DM College of Arts and this premier educational institution in the State is presently just chugging along.

The tattered buildings and lack of sufficient infrastructure is writ large river the college and students and teachers alike are resigned to their fate and the pride that was once associated with being a student of this college has disappeared for good.

All developmental programmes of the college have been pushed to the back burner.

Speaking to newsmen today the Principal of the college N Ibechaobi Devi, teacher and representatives of the College students union said that DM College was bifurcated as DM College of Science and DM College of Arts in 1975. At that point of time there was no separate building for the Arts stream.

The present site of the college was where the GP College hostel stood.

The class rooms were built over time from the College Development fund, they said.

Ever since the bifurcation, the Government has not paid any attention to this college and as a result today, the class rooms, staff room, floor and roofing of the college is an abysmal state.

The roof leaks and in times of heavy downpour conducting classes is impossible.

The ceilings too have started to give way.

Not long back a student was hurt when the ceiling fan snapped.

The walls of the college have also developed cracks, they said.

However undeterred by the seeming lack of interest on the part of the Government, the college under the inspiration of its Principal has been able to construct teachers toilet, student union room and boys common room.

Construction of the college library under grants from the UGC is also completed.

There is lack of regular teachers in the 14 departments opened at the college.

The worst hit is the Economics department, the students said and added that since the Head of Department was transferred the department has been plagued by lack of sufficient teachers.

No replacements for the transferred head clerk, kerani and other office bearers have been effected by the Government, they rued.

Teachers have to double up as the head clerk and kerani as admission time is now nearing.

All development works have also come to a screeching halt, they said.

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