The Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act may be posing hurdles for upcoming Government educational institutions like IIM-R, NUSRl, CUJ and IIIT in getting an adequately large campus in the capital, but three private universities have found ways to overcome it.
As ICFAI Jharkhand, Jharkhand Rai University and Sai Nath University are not dependent on the State, they are taking smooth strides ahead. Requesting anonymity, a senior Sai Nath University official said, “We have acquired 20 acres private land near Ormanjhi. We will be shifting within three to four months. For the past year since our establishment in Ranchi, we have been managing our regular BBA, BCA and Polytechnic Diploma courses — comprising 400 students — in two buildings. These included 26 classrooms in Bariatu hired on a 15-year lease, for which we pay Rs 3 lakh a month.”
“Taking land from the Government is a problem. Sai Nath has been approaching the human resource development department and Deputy Commissioner for proper land acquisition, but has not yet got any assurance,” added the senior official.
Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Jharkhand Rai University (JRU), established a year ago, tends to agree. Dr Savita Sengar said, “We acquired 20 acres within Ranchi from a private party. Construction is yet to begin and in the coming session, we will probably shift partly to this permanent campus. Academic infrastructure needs to be good and we are doing well in it.”
At present, the university is running in 2,500-square feet premises taken on a 10-year lease. With 10 rooms and eight laboratories, JRU is providing BTech, MBA, Diploma in Engineering and BBA courses with 100 per cent internship and live projects.
“Satisfied with our year’s achievement, we would be starting BA, BCom, BCA, MCA, Bachelors in Fashion Technology and doctorate courses in the coming session,” added Sengar.
ORS Rao, Vice-Chancellor of ICFAI Jharkhand, the first private university of the State, established in 2009, also agreed with Sengar’s view. He is aware that student intake capacity in private universities is not much, but the quality of education is remarkable, even for such less population.
“Infrastructure, electricity problems, public transportation and inter-State connectivity are major problems here. But in spite of these facts, the academic session is not disturbed in private universities. Our main job is to go along with the higher education ambience of this region,” said Rao.
ICFAI runs in a private building with around 13 classrooms at Ashoknagar, and another building at Harmu Road. Rao added, “We were offered around 30 acres by a private owner at Hocchar, but because of the land brokers’ involvement, we have been able to acquire only 7.43 acres. In order to avoid these land disputes, we pay rent to local private owners for use of buildings in the city and have no complaints on working this way.”
The university runs courses on BBA, BCA, BTech, part-time MBA and MBA for working professionals, comprising 250 to 300 students. It also ties up with local public and corporate houses for student internships and placement.