Guwahati, Sept 15: In a move that augurs well for higher education in Assam, as many as six colleges in the state will now be upgraded to universities with the state Assembly passing legislations for the creation of six new universities.
Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu had moved the bills during the autumn session of the Assembly, seeking to upgrade existing colleges to universities.
“The Assam Assembly has passed bills for creation of six new universities, made amendments to the functioning and operations of seven existing universities. This will immensely benefit the student populace while providing them greater access to higher education,” the minister later stated.
The colleges that will be upgraded to universities are Sibsagar College (Autonomous), Gurucharan College, Bongaigaon College, North Lakhimpur College (Autonomous), Nowgong College (Autonomous) and Jagannath Borooah College (Autonomous).
In this regard, the House had passed through voice vote ‘The Nagaon University Bill, 2023’, ‘The Gurucharan University Bill, 2023’, ‘The Bongaigaon University Bill, 2023’, ‘The Jagannath Barooah University Bill, 2023’, ‘The North Lakhimpur University Bill, 2023’ and ‘The Sibsagar University Bill, 2023’.
In his reply to issues raised during the discussion on the Bills, Pegu said at least 100 bighas and five departments with eligible faculty members are required among other prerequisites for starting a new university.
The minister further informed that the existing infrastructure of the colleges that are being upgraded is being used and funds have already been allotted for expansion.
On the other hand, amendment Bills for seven universities were also passed at the Assembly. The universities are Gauhati University, Cotton University, Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University, Madhabdev University, Assam Women’s University, Assam Science and Technology University (ASTU) and Bodoland University.
Among other Bills passed by the Assembly were “The Mobility of Employees of State Government and other Establishment (for Optimum Utilisation of Available Manpower for Efficiency) Bill, 2023’, which was moved by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma; ‘The Assam Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2023’, moved by panchayat and rural development minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass and ‘Assam Motor Vehicle Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2023’, moved by transport minister Parimal Suklabaidya, ‘The Assam Micro-Finance Institutions (Regulation of Money Lending) (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ and ‘The Assam Goods & Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023’, moved by finance minister Ajanta Neog.