IMPHAL, December 22: Hopes for immediate passing of the much talked about Bill to set up the proposed Sangai National University had to be deferred to the next session because of lacunas in the Bill.
A Select Committee of the House chaired by the Education Minister of the State, Moirangthem Okendro however has been set up to further look into the modalities of setting up the proposed `Sangai National University`™.
Okendro today proposed sympathetic consideration and passing of the Sangai National University, Manipur Bill, 2014, however, the Bill fell through because of various `lacunas`™, as pointed by the Opposition benches.
The Chief Minister, O Ibobi, who is also the Leader of the House, during the discussion, after listening to the observations of the members, proposed that a Select Committee of the House be set up further look further into the proposed Bill.
He said the Committee after studying the details can submit a report before the commencement of the next Session, which could take place in March next year.
He continued that there are supplementary Votes on Account left to be taken up in the next Session as well, thereby the Select Committee could furnish the report in time before passing the Bill.
He also proposed the names of the members of the House to be included in the Committee.
The House unanimously agreed to form a committee, with the Education minister M Okendro as chairman supported by members including Dr Ng Bijoy, L Ibomcha, Dr Ibohalbi, Y Surchandra, Govindas K, Dr Chaltonlian Amo, Alex Pao, Dr Ratan, I Hemochandra and Samual Risom.
Accordingly such a committee was formed by the Speaker of the House, Th Lokeshwar.
Earlier, taking part in the discussion, Dr I Ibohalbi, MLA of Oinam A/C welcomed instituting of a private university in the State.
He said setting up another university is a long felt requirement for students who wished to pursue higher education.
To an extent, the proposed university will help in lessening the mass exodus of students to other States, and moreover there is not a single private university in Manipur, he added.
Dr Ibohalbi, however, questioned the credentials of Manav Bharti Charitable Trust, which is going to institute the proposed university.
He said the allotted 25 `“ 30 Acres of land should not be sold off to the said Trust. Instead, its ownership must be retained by the State government. Later he proposed for setting up a committee to look into the modalities.
Dr Ng Bijoy, MLA of Khurai A/C during the discussion also proposed retaining ownership of the allotted land of the proposed university. He further proposed that State representatives like the Governor, the CM and any member from the council of ministers must be included in the governing body of the university, and added that the matter must be thoroughly discussed before passing it as a Bill.
L Ibomcha, MLA of Keishamthong A/C also taking part in the discussion maintained that he does not endorse Sangai to be the name of the proposed university. He said that animal names are conventionally not employed as name of university.