Shillong, Dec 2: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma in the presence of Sports and Youth AFFAIRS Minister Zenith Sangma on Friday laid the base for the first state sponsored university — Captain Williamson Sangma State Technical University, Tura and College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Jewilgre in South West Garo Hills.
“The university will cater to the state of Meghalaya and its campuses and study centre will be established in different parts of the country and globally”, said the chief minister.
In 2011, a Bill to set up the university was passed in the Meghalaya Assembly. “The delay in the establishment of the University was primarily because of various political upheavals in the state. In our state, it is difficult to keep our MLAs together, almost on a daily basis our legislators make attempts to shift their loyalty”, Dr Sangma said on a lighter note.
He informed that Rs. 19 cr has been sanctioned for construction of university building at Jewilgre, about 20 km from Tura in an area which spans over 100 acres. “The construction of the university has already begun and efforts are being made to ensure that it is completed soon”, he added. R D Shira and K R Marak has been appointed as the Pro Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the Captain Williamson Sangma State Technical University Dr Sangma informed.
The chief minister said that in the next five years Meghalaya would celebrate 50th glorious year of statehood and there are lot of expectations. He said that the state has made its humble beginning to ensure development in the state and there will be lot of welfare programmes for the people. “We have to ensure that the state is capable of nurturing the young ones and pave the way to enable the generation next to realize their dreams as per their true potentialities”, he added.
Dr Sangma lamented that Meghalaya is yet to have its own medical college and that many aspiring young people have to leave their dreams for want of admission, which was precisely the reason that the government has laid its base for the medical colleges at Jowai and Tura.
“There is something wrong in the medical education sector in India. In hospitals there would be more than 10 surgeons but not a single anesthetist. In absence of an anesthetist how can a surgery take place? We have to ensure that our health sector is balanced, which is the reason that we are establishing two medical colleges at the same time to balance the system, so that we have the required many power”, he said.
Clarifying reservations of his on why Meghalaya was simultaneously taking up establishment of medical and engineering colleges in Khasi and Garo hills at the same time, he said, “We have to ensure that there is equal development. If something is established in eastern region (Khasi hills), it has to be there in western region (Garo hills”. He said that the establishment of the university, medical and engineering college in Meghalaya would not only educate our youth but would inspire them to dream higher. “It would build up an environment, where our youth will draw inspiration from their respective backyard”, the chief minister added.
He also informed that the College of Architecture and Urban Planning would be first of its kind in the North East and that Rs26 cr had been sanctioned for initial infrastructure development. “Urban planning is a lucrative profession and the need of the hour. Look at cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Guwahati, where an hour of rain is enough to disturb everything, as it leads to flooding of roadways that was otherwise preventable”. “We invite all our educated people working outside the region to come back with their enriching experiences and join our universities and institutes and contribute for the welfare of the state”, the chief minister said.
He said that there is an unpleasant situation in the country, where the seed of hatred is being sown by people with vested interests disturbing the peace and harmony of the region. “The situation is such that parents have are fearful to send their children outside for higher studies. It is our responsibility to ensure that we provide an atmosphere for our children to get the best of education in their own backyard”, he said. The government has embarked upon an agenda to pave way for a future where the state will be self reliant and not dependent on other states. “Leaders must be able to connect with the aspiration and expectation of the people and on their behalf the leaders must be able to dream so that further course of action will culminate out of their actions”, the chief minister added.
North Tura MLA, N R Marak, Raksamgre MLA L D Sangma, GHADC CEM Boston Marak, MDC’s Ismail Marak, J Sangma, K Marak, Co Chairman, State Planning Board, F Ch Momin, South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Cyril Darlong Diengdoh, ADC,H D B Sangma, Superintendent of Police, Bobby S W MOMomin, EAC D A Sangma and TMB Chairman Donbosh Marak were amongst those present at the gathering.
