The Minister of State for higher education Dr Dhan Singh Rawat has sought cooperation of students’ teachers and parents for ushering in path breaking changes in higher education sector in Uttararakhand.
He made this statement while undertaking a meeting with the officials of higher education department and representatives of the student unions of state. The minister said that it is his endeavour to systematize academic session and ensure that the student union elections are accomplished on time and are less expensive. He said that the government wants implement an academic session in which classes are held for 180 days, the examinations are completed within 30 days, results are declared in 20 days and the election of student's union is held in seven days. The minister said that the academic calendar can be implemented with active cooperation of all stake holders.
Rawat claimed that the government is committed ensure that colleges have the facilities like library, reading room and toilets. He also sought cooperation of students for organizing seminars on the anniversaries of great personalities, creation of academic environment in colleges and recitation of national anthem at 10 am and national song at 4 pm in all colleges.
The minister said that students would participate in Namani Gange Project by medium of National Service Scheme (NSS0 and National Cadet Corps (NCC) camps and for it a provision of Rs 5 crores is earmarked.
He informed that a committee comprising of three Vice Chancellors (VCs) is constituted by the government which will recommend formal dress code for scholars during the convocation ceremonies. The government intends to replace the gown and cap which according to it reflects colonial hangover with traditional attire.
The committee would invite suggestions of scholars, students and representatives for the dress code. Rawat said that the government has decided to appoint lecturers on contract on a fix salary of Rs 35000 per month to fill vacant posts of teachers in the colleges of the state and a proposal to set up a higher education selection commission is on anvil as appointment of lecturers by public service commission is time consuming. Rawat said that the government has decided to create a separate cadre of registrars for universities and the candidates with qualifications equivalent to that of Professors would be eligible for these posts so that academic and other activities of the universities are brought on track. He said that a wall of valour having pictures of 21 Param Vir Chakra (PVC) recipients would be pasted.
The meeting was attended by Director Higher education Dr B C Malkani, Joint director Savita Mohan, Deputy director Dr Harshvanti Bisht and other officers of state higher education department. The state President of NSUI Shyam Singh Chauhan, Vice President Vineet Bhatt, Ayush Semwal, member national body ABVP Ramakant Srivastava, district President of SFI Himanshu Chauhan and representatives of other student unions were also present on the occasion.