Shillong, July 24: Union Minister for DoNER and NEC chairman, Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of a new hostel for students from the Northeast on the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
The new hostel when completed will accommodate over 400 students, both male and female.
The hostel will be known as “Barak Hostel,” commemorating the River Barak in the North East region of India.
“To have a special hostel for the North Eastern region is to bring the beauty and richness and wisdom of the region,” Dr Jitendra said adding that, “North East is one of the fastest growing regions of India where the growth rate is nearly 20 per cent.”
DoNER secretary, Naveen Verma said that the decision to build the hostel was taken with a great speed in the ministry.
The hostel will cost about Rs 29 crore.
NEC secretary Ram Muivah also extended his support for speedy construction of the hostel.
Five Members of Parliament from the North Eastern region were also present on the occasion.
The hostel will have five floors. Apart from the student rooms, the hostel will have all the required facilities, such as hostel offices, dining hall, common room and other facilities for students.
JNU Vice Chancellor, Professor M Jagadesh Kumar said he was delighted that the Central government was helping JNU to build the hostel.
Welcoming the chief guest, JNU (Rector-III), Prof Rana Pratap Singh, expressed his grateful to the DoNER Minister who spared his time to come for the foundation stone laying ceremony.
