Imphal, Jan 12: Police on Thursday had a tough time dealing with a slogan shouting protest rally of students of GP Women College who were heading to the chief minister’s secretariat in Imphal.
The students carried out the rally showing solidarity to the demand for conversion of Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) into a full-fledged university which six major students’ bodies have been pressing the state government.
The students demanded resignation of Education minister, Thounaojam Basantakumar and Commissioner of Higher and Technical Education, Gyan Prakash on moral grounds for failing to convert DMU into a full-fledged university.
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They further demanded appointment of a regular registrar, a finance officer and a controller of examination. Placards highlighting their demands were also displayed during the protest.
The rally kicked off from the GM Women College campus was stopped by the police when the students tried to storm the chief minister’s secretariat.
The police then forced the students to return to their college campus.
Talking to reporters, social and cultural secretary of GM Women College Students’ Union, Rashewori Meihoubam said that even after five years since the establishment, DMU is yet to be recognized by the UGC as a full-fledged university.
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The student leader said that the university has no teacher approved by the UGC. Besides, the university is yet to be qualified for the acquisition of 12 (B) status of UGC as per the provisions of UGC 1956 Regulation. As such, the students could not avail scholarships and fellowships from the UGC, she alleged.
The DM University was set up under The Dhanamanjuri University Act, 2017 which came into force on April 6, 2018 through a notification in Manipur Gazette published by the Department of Higher and Technical Education.
However, the university is yet to be recognized as a full-fledged university by the University Grant Commission (UGC) as it is functioning under the Department of Higher and Technical Education.
On Wednesday, members of prominent students’ bodies – MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK, AIMS and AMSU- protested against the failure to convert the university into a full-fledged university.
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