IMPHAL, December 17: A high profile team of the Education department led by minister Moirangthem Okendro Singh, conducted a whirlwind tour of Sugnu Assembly Constituency today in connection with the implementation of various project to be taken up under the Rashtriya Uchatra Shikya Abhiyaan (RUSA) within the constituency.
The minister was accompanied by Sugnu MLA, K Ranjit, Commissioner of Higher Education, P Vaiphei and other officials of Rastriya Meidhyamik Shiksa Abhiyaan (RMSA), Deputy Commissioner Thoubal, T Ranjit, SP Thoubal Dr Ak Jhalajit, officials of Engineering Cell and RMSA etc.
The team made their first stop at Chairen village wherein the minister made an official announcement to upgrade the Chairen Junior High School to a full-fledged high school.
Addressing the gathering at Chairen, the minister revealed that the up-gradation project will be funded under the RMSA 2013-14 plan with an estimated cost of Rs 76 lakhs. As per the RMSA funded project it consist only components for new class rooms but judging the deplorable condition of the school more funds will be required to upgrade the infrastructure, asserted the minister.
While appealing to the public to extend their full co-operation in maintaining quality, he assured the complete upgradation by next academic session.
The present structure of the Chairen Junior High School stood in pathetic state. Only two class rooms of six are in use at present. Having shortage of class rooms, the school authority has constructed a temporary building which is now in rickety condition. It has been informed that the temporary structure having four rooms was build with contribution from teachers, local bodies representatives.
The minister’s team later visited the Sugnu Higher Secondary School and interacted with the staffs on the issues of shortcomings being faced by the school.
As assured by the minister in his recent visit to extend financial assistance of Rs 10 Lakhs, the minister handed over Rs three lakhs in cash to the principal of the school for infrastructural development in the first phase.
The minister’s team also attended a public meeting held Sugnu Awang Leikai in connection with the establishment of a new college at Sugnu at par with a model college.
Delivering his speech there Okendro informed that the new college was established as a part of the 17 flagship programme of the UPA Government and funded under RUSA.
Besides Sugnu, under RUSA same college will also be set up at Thanlon, Tamei and Phungyar, he said adding that more teachers will be recruited through the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) and other shortcomings addressed in roder to improve the condition of higher education.
Under the scheme (RUSA) 90 percent of the funds will be sponsored by central government and 10 percent by the state, said the minister.
Informing that a proposal to upgrade DM College to state university is under active consideration, he divulged that his department will leave no stone unturned to prevent drainage of economy in pursuing higher education, referring to mass migration of students to other states.
Okendro further exhorted the public to put to an end to bandh culture to pave way for peaceful environment and allow younger generation to get their education.
According to P Vaiphei, the new college will be a one of its kind having residential facilities for teachers, library, laboratory, administration block, students’ hostel, solar lighting etc.
He asserted that a project report would be soon submitted to the Ministry of HRD before January 15.
Later concluding their tour, the official team visited Kakching Khunou College wherein another round of meeting was held with the faculty members of the college.
Speaking during the meeting Sugnu MLA, clarified on rumours being spread among the teachers and locals with regards to the establishment of the new college.
He informed the gathering that the new college will not affect the existence of Kakching Khunou College as perceived by many adding that he urged the gathering to be careful of rumours that could take a heavy toll on the society.