Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 3: Govt of India will promote Northeast Study Centre in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as a part of its initiative to obtain a better understanding of the peculiar characteristics of the region through institutionalised research based on evidence and data.
This was announced here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh during an interactive seminar held at JNU focusing on the areas and concerns of students from Northeast.
Also present on the occasion were Vice Chancellor JNU Prof. S.K. Sopory, Prof. Varun Sawhney, Prof. Bhagat Oinam, Prof. Krishna, Prof. Milap and other senior faculty members.
Addressing the students from Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the picture is not as pessimistic as it is sometimes made out to be. In this context he referred to the figures and stated that many people are not aware of the fact that out of a total strength of over 8000 students in JNU, around 500 belong to Northeast, which accounts for nearly around 6% of the total student population in the campus. In other words, this also means that on an average, there could be 60 students each from each of the eight Northeastern States studying in JNU. This number is quite remarkable when compared to the students in JNU from other peripheral States like Jammu & Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh,he observed.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the students had an advantage of serving as active ambassadors of Northeast in India because at this age, they are endowed with energy, activism and urge to perform. He advised them that after having completed their studies in JNU, they should prefer to go back to Northeast and enrich their native State with the knowledge and academic empowerment obtained from here. This will enable them to maintain their own identity and at the same time, JNU will also have a reason to remember them as their alumni, he explained.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is for the young members of the community, and particularly students, to make an extra effort to highlight all the good work and good contribution being made by the Northeast community living in the Union Capital, so that the media is compelled to project Northeast only for good reasons and never otherwise.
Referring to Prime Minister’s special focus at Northeast, Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned, the allocation of Rs.2,362 Cr. made in the current budget presented in the Parliament on February 28, 2015 and the announcement to setup a Film Production Institute and an AIIMS both of which will go a long way in providing employment as well as better vocational avenues for youngsters in the Northeast without having to move out to other cities in the country.
He called upon the students community from Northeast to feel free to communicate with him and said that after setting-up two hostels in the JNU and the Delhi University South Campus respectively, his Ministry will work on identifying other places also for similar hostels.
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