[Assam] Engineering college demanded in Dhemaji district (The Assam Tribune, Sunday, August 24, 2008 )

[Buljit Buragohain]

Engineering college demanded in Dhemaji district

Dunadhar doley
 SILAPATHAR, Aug 23 – Assam has three engineering colleges with an intake capacity of 750 students more namely Assam Engineering College, Guwahati, Jorhat Engineering College, Jorhat and National Institute of Technology, Silchar (popularly known as Silchar Engineering College). However, this is far less compared to the other States of the nation. A few financially sound students land up in other States to pursue a course in Engineering, but the financially weak have no hope of studying in the State.

According to latest data Madhya Pradesh 61 engineering colleges with an intake capacity of 20,210, Gujarat has 37 engineering colleges with an intake capacity of 12,965, West Bengal has 54 engineering colleges (capacity 15,477), Orissa has 41 colleges (capacity 13,014) Uttar Pradesh has 89 colleges (capacity 28,953), Haryana has 38 colleges (capacity 12,785), Punjab 45 (capacity 14,880), Rajasthan (capacity 15,045), Andhra Pradesh 236 (82,970 capacity), Tamil Nadu 254 (80,417), Karnataka 118 (46,375), Kerala 89 (24,413), Maharashtra 155 (48,250).

Tamil Nadu has a population of 62,110,839 with 254 engineering colleges with an intake capacity of 80,417 students. Proportionately, Assam should have atleast 34,488 intake capacity as it has a population of 26,638,407. Assam has only 750 seats (now increased by more than 300) in three engineering colleges. It should have at least 111 engineering colleges with an intake capacity of 34,488.

The National Knowledge Commission had advised to set up atleast 1500 universities within 2015 for higher education catering to 15% of the students of the nation in November 2006. This is a very good piece of news for the people of Assam along with the nation. If this materialism, no student of the State will be denied of higher education.

Moreover, the State Government has decided to set up three new medical colleges in Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Jorhat. It may be noted that the Chief Minister has also announced to set up more engineering colleges in the State.

The State Government will set up a Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology at Guwahati, Technical University at Nagaon, a Central University at Guwahati, Law University at Guwahati, a private university at Tepesia, Sonapur, 15 polytechnic institutes in the State yet, 10 engineering colleges (location) and medical university.

The people of Dhemaji district have demanded to set up an engineering college in the district out of the 10 engineering colleges.

Tribal populated Dhemaji district has no technical institution (except one ITI Dhemaji), industries, or higher education institutes. Most of the school, colleges of the area are non-provincialised, although, the literacy rate of Dhemaji is 65.95 per cent.

Students from the remote district do not get enough opportunity of higher education in the area and financially weak students have to give up their education for financial constraints.

The people of Dhemaji are nursing a feeling of betrayal over the recent announcement of State Government wherein these was nothing for Dhemaji in the given list. The government has announced three para-medical institutions at Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar medical colleges, one agriculture college at Dhubri, one engineering college at Barak Valley (Karimganj/Cachar/Hailakandi), one engineering college at BTC one university at Kokrajhar (BTC), one nursing college at a hill district (North Cachar Hills/Karbi Anglong) for the financial year 2008-09 in the Assam Budget.

The people of district have not given up the demand for an engineering college. Moreover, they have also demanded to set up a medical college an university and an engineering college on the northern part of river Brahmaputra. Last year, a committee titled ‘Uttarpar Unnayan Dabi Samiti’ (Northern part Development Demand Committee) was constituted in support of the demand. In this regard, a telephonic message was sent to Prime Minister and President of India. A memorandum was also faxed to the Prime Minister.

Several organisations of the district like AASU, ATASU, AJYCP and tribal organisations, have also voiced their support to the demand.

It may be mentioned that there is no higher educational institution between Tezpur and Jonai on the northern part of river Brahmaputra except the Central University, Tezpur. The veterinary college of Lakhimpur is in a pathetic condition due to financial problems. 

An engineering college is most needed in the area encompassing the people of Majuli, Lakhimpur, Dhakuakhana, Bihpuria, Narayanpur, Gilamara, Jonai, Silapathar, Nowboicha etc.

(The Assam Tribune, Sunday, August 24, 2008 )


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