IMPHAL, September 23: Concerned with the aggravating students’ agitation at the Manipur Institute of Technology demanding removal of the Principal in charge, Dr Th Kulachandra Singh, a governing body meeting of the institute will be discussing the issue tomorrow.
Vice Chancellor, Manipur University, Prof H Nandakumar Sharma addressing the media at his office chamber today said the governing body of the institute has already received instructions from the Secretary to the Governor, Dr RK Nimai Singh to examine the allegations levelled by the students against the Principal and to take necessary actions.
He said tomorrow’s meeting will also discuss necessary actions to be taken up against Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, MIT Th Ibungomacha Singh who allegedly created nuisance at the Manipur Bhawan, Kolkata while in charge of a study tour programme of the institute’s students in the first week of August.
He said, the Assistant Professor disturbed other visitors and residents of the bhawan with unwanted acts.
Coming to the issue of the students’ demand for removal of the Principal, the VC said that ever since the institute became a constituent college of the Manipur University on October 13, 2005, the university has never received any revenue from the institute, even though it should be mandatory.
He continued his office had served notification to the institute on the issue however there has been no positive response from the institute till date.
Further elaborating on the present situation of the institute, the MU VC said that following the complaints of the students, he had himself visited the institute during which he found that even though there were five grade IV employees, the institute compound was strewn with garbage.
He continued that in defiance of the guideline of the UGC, which says that the teaching and non-teaching staff strength ratio should be 1:1; the staff strength at the institute was found to be 1:3.
The laboratory was not fully equipped though the MU authorities had always supplied the institute with proper and up-to-date equipment, Prof H Nandakumar contended.
Several Zerox machines which were supplied to the institute were also found missing, he further expressed.
He had provided assurance to the students to provide around 20 computers and provision of drinking water, he said.
By next year, most probably, the institute will be shifted to the MU campus, he assured. He said the students have been staying at a community hall at Sagolband Tera Yengkhom Leirak since yesterday.
Since there are several students who are from far off places and outside the state, the MU authority has already taken steps to accommodate the students at the MU campus, he said.
Meanwhile, parents and guardians of the students have formed a MIT Students’ Guardian Association.