Sibal lays NIT foundation stone

Noncommittal on setting up IIM in Nagaland as PROPOSED by RIO

Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) and Communications and Information & Technology Kapil Sibal stressed on the objective of National Institute of Technolog y(NIT) in applying science for dealing with problems so as to enhance quality of life of people living in the area.

The minister said this after laying the foundation stone for the first NIT in Nagaland at its permanent campus in Chumukedima Saturday where chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Lok Sabha MP CM Chang, state ministers, dignitaries and central and state officials were present.

Responding to chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s inaugural remarks wherein a request was put forward for establishing one Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Huvukhu( earlier proposed for setting up of the permanent campus of the NIT), Sibal was non-committal. He explained that it was difficult to bring faculty in Nagaland as it had to be “ a  world class institute” that demanded “huge ecosystem” providing support to both the faculty and the student community. 

“ I am not against setting up IIM in Nagaland, not at all. But I think you must move in a direction which will give an immediate benefit to the young of Nagaland. We may build up an IIM in Nagaland but very few Nagas will be in that institute so it won’t truly benefit the people of Nagaland,”  Sibal said.

Law University
Sibal assured that the request for a National Law University by state chief minister,   would be considered. He however asked the state to work closely with the centre and requested a team be sent to Delhi for further discussion in the context of state’s resources so that the state’s vision could be taken forward to empower the youth. Sibal said he was ready to suggest the kind of educational institutions needed to set up in Nagaland so that it could “immediately” benefit the educated youths.

On natural resources
The minister admitted that it would be “very difficult” for Nagaland to become an industrial state despite being rich in natural and reserves. Instead, Sibal , suggested that the state   make efforts to develop specific institutions instead of trying to “replicate” what was already happening on other parts of India. He opined that bamboo was an exceptionally valuable alternative resource for coal dust, as bamboo dust could be used as alternative source of energy.
Sibal pointed out that education must be integrated according to resources by stressing for specialized institutions, based on available resources instead of general institutions.

He said a lot of “local power” could be generated as Nagaland was rich in mineral resources instead of building mega dams. He said though big dams were in fashion, yet they were not conducive for the environment. He advised the state to look for alternative ways of producing energy consistent with maintaining its  “beautiful environment”.

Vocational education
The union minister made a strong point in favour of vocational education system by suggesting that school and university system should make efforts to collaborate with the former .
He said vocational education system was intended for every school in the country starting from class nine to twelve. Sibal said that along with normal subjects, schools should also incorporate vocational subjects based in the context of where the school was located.

Encouraging the state to establish more polytechnics, Sibal said  the country has around 408 scientific institutes, out of which only 135 were  polytechnics. He said the ratio of engineering institutes and polytechnics was 2:1 whereas it should be 1:3 i.e. one engineering institute to three polytechnics.

Sibal said that youths could be empowered through   polytechnics upon which the work force of the state could be built. He requested that two more polytechnics be set up under Nagaland University in other parts of the state and assured that “permission” was granted for the same during the 12th year plan.

Rio asks for more
Earlier, state chief minister Neiphiu Rio made a special request to the union minister for setting up of IIM, a National Law University and a medical college in Nagaland. The chief minister stated that even after 49 years of statehood, there was no regional and national institutes of repute except for Nagaland University and NIT. He said it was high time that more such institutes were set up to facilitate not only the state’s students but also to attract students from outside the state.

Rio said such initiatives would bring about a sense of belonging, cultural exchange and understanding. He also disclosed that state government has “purchased another land” measuring more than 300 acres for setting up of IIM.

Saying that Nagaland was recognized for economic backwardness, insurgency, lack of infrastructure and communications, Rio said  when Nagaland got statehood the literacy rate was just above 20%. However, he pointed out that it rose above 80% according to the 2011 census, which   was also above national average.
Minister for urban development, higher education, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu in his short speech   highlighted the achievements of the state in the education sector. He said during the past years the state has opened sufficient schools for general education and stated that it was now time for the state to concentrate on technical and vocational education.

  Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), C.M. Chang also read out a short speech. A sapling was also planted by the union minister and chief minister while the foundation stone was unveiled by the union minister.

NIT foundation stone laying programme was attended by HRD officials accompanying union minister, minister for forest, environment, ecology, wildlife and excise M.C. Konyak, minister for soil and water conservation and land resources development P. Longon, minister for health and family welfare Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu and host of parliamentary secretaries and other dignitaries.