By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has tied up with the Bangalore University for construction of hostels for students from the North East, besides proposing to come up with similar projects in Mumbai, Pune and Mysore.
The hostels project is part of the confidence building measures of the NEC following the recent mass exodus of students and professional from various parts of South India and Maharashtra, especially Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune.
The Bangalore University Engineering Wing has been assigned with the job of constructing state-of-the-art hostels at the Jnana Bharathi Main Campus.
An amount of Rs 32.14 crore has been earmarked to accommodate around 1700 plus students in the hostels in the initial stages.
“We are coming up with the hostels in Bangalore which would have all modern facilities including an indoor stadium. The proposed hostels would be constructed in an area of around 39,900 square meters at Jnana Bharathi, Mysore Road which houses the Bangalore University,” NEC Secretary UK Sangma told reporters here on Monday.
Sangma said that they would be constructing separate block for both boys and girls while adding that the total intake of the proposed hostels would be around 1716.
“We are also planning to construct similar infrastructures in Pune, Mumbai and Mysore,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bangalore University Registrar, Prof BC Mylarappa, has informed that around 9,000 students from the Northeast are pursuing their studies (graduation and post graduation courses) in various colleges affiliated to Bangalore University.
“At present, the University is in close touch with the Karnataka Government for ensuring safety and security of the students from the Northeastern region. The University has also made arrangements for the safety and security of the NE students,” Prof Mylarappa said.
The NEC Secretary also informed that the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs jointly with the DoNER Ministry and the NEC has initiated construction of a 500-seat hostel in the Delhi University for girl students from Northeast and other tribal girl students studying in the University.
“The total cost of the hotel is Rs. 23.33 crore of which NEC is contributing Rs 13.99 crore,” Sangma said.
According to the NEC secretary, a 501-seat hostel for working women and others hailing from the Northeast was also constructed at Jasola near Apollo Hospital in Delhi in association with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development at a total cost of Rs 17.44 crore.
Another 70-seat North Eastern students’ house for women was also constructed at BB Marg, Delhi, the NEC official said.
Besides, the Union Ministry of DoNER and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment together with the NEC have proposed to construct a 500-seat women’s hostel in South Campus of Delhi University for Northeast students.
“The proposal is under consideration and a letter was sent to the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University for identification of land to build the hostel and to assess the requirements and modalities,” the NEC Secretary said.