By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Kapil Sibal, said that institutes like the National Institute of Technology (NIT) which would come up in Sohra can address issues like the perennial problem of water scarcity in the area.
After laying the foundation stone of the NIT Sohra at Saitsohpen on Friday, Sibal said he is aware that Sohra is facing the problem of scarcity of water despite having a lot of rainfall due to the nature of its terrain.
“It is important for the NIT to come up with the solution to the problems being faced by the local population with applied research,” Sibal, who is also in charge of Communication and Information Technology, said.
The veteran political leader asserted that the Congress-led UPA Government has laid special focus on the North Eastern Region.
“It is during the tenure of the Congress-led Government that 10 NITs have been established since 2004, with a large number of these institutions being set up in the Northeastern region,” he said.
“We have established these institutions here since the Government realizes that the youth from this part of the country have great aspirations which can only be realized through the setting up of high quality institutions of excellence in this part of the country,” he said, adding, “This is the right time and environment for the youth to apply their minds and achieve levels of excellence that they have not had access to.”
Stating that the country has a population of 400 million aged between 0 and 14 years, Sibal said this young population is ready to transform the country.
He also said the solutions, which should be affordable, should have an impact on the lives of the locals.
“I have come to lay the foundation stone of the NIT Sohra permanent campus with a lot of hope. I would like to see this campus becomes a world class campus,” he said.
“The campus should be able to motivate the young minds and should also be a place where young people feel comfortable,” Sibal said, while also suggesting that world class facilities should be put in place so that faculty from all over the country and also abroad come and stay in Sohra to impart education to the students.
While stating that 50 per cent of the seats in the NIT will be reserved for students belonging to Meghalaya, Sibal also stressed on the importance to open opportunities for students from outside the State for a better understanding of mindsets.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, who was also present at the function, said it is befitting to have this institution in Sohra as it is a place which is world renowned.
“When we give opportunities for the human mind to be more creative and innovative, we see wonders happening. This is exactly what we see today,” the Chief Minister said, adding that Shillong and Meghalaya need more of such institutions as 70 per cent of North East people who are holding high posts in other parts of the country are products of institutions based in Shillong.
“Shillong has contributed immensely to the overall growth and development of the whole region,” Dr Sangma added.
Meanwhile, NIT Sohra Officer on Special Duty (OSD) D Goswami said the targeted deadline to complete the campus is 2015 while also informing that a total amount of Rs 250 crore has been sanctioned for the campus.
He said the institute started its activities in 2010 with SVNIT, Surat as the mentor institute by admitting the first batch of B Tech. students in three disciplines in the SVNIT campus which has a total intake of 90 students.
“We would be shifting the students of the first and second batch to the temporary campus in Shillong from SVNIIT, Surat in January,” Goswami said.
Education Minister Prof. RC Laloo presided over the function.