UDALGURI, Nov 20 � Compared to other parts of BTC region, Udalguri district has been neglected since long even after formation of the BTC in 2003. While most of the higher educational institutions are seen concentrated only at Kokrajhar of the Bodoland region, the Udalguri region is always put on back foot by the ruling alliance. The reason behind this is clear to those who understand the politics but it is not understood by the general and poor students who even could not afford higher studies even outside Udalguri district. Even though Udalguri region possesses all the potentialities to set up higher educational institutions like those in Kokrajhar, but due to lack of farsightedness of concerned authority in power, it remained neglected.
Considering these vital points in mind, a group of people, including persons from social organisations, political parties and intellectuals decided to set up a university in and around Udalguri to facilitate the poor students to expose their hidden talents in respective faculties of higher studies and invited Dr Ramdayal Munda, MP and adviser to the Prime Minister last year on September 1 who visited Udalguri with Dr. CD Singh, Vice Chancellor of Amarkantak University, MP to study the feasibility to set up a tribal university at Gumgaon in Udalguri district bordering the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Bhutan. The scholars appreciated the selection of place for a university under the picturesque landscape of Bhairabkunda and assured the eager local people to meet their long pending demand for a university.
The management committee for the tribal university was formed on November 18 last at Udalguri town with 11 members and eight advisors is hopeful of the assurance given to them a-year-ago by the scholars of the university. The management committee was formed with Benjamin Soren, Bharmon Baglari, Rakesh Boro and Devaraj Sapkota as chairman, vice chairman, secretary and assistant secretary respectively and Dhiren Boro, Gobinda Basumatary and PK Daimari, chairman, general secretary of NDFB(P)and MCLA of Bhairabkunda BTC seat respectively as advisors including five others.
Benjamin Soren, the secretary of the management committee informed that the team of university would again make next visit probably on December 2 next this year to assess the development to set up a university for which 775 bighas of land has been already allotted for the purpose.
Talking to this correspondent, Gobinda Basumatary, general secretary of the NDFB(P) said that the tribal university will be a dream project for those who hanker after higher studies at home district where the admission arrangement will probably be 60:40 for the tribal and non tribal students. He also urged people of the district to come forward for this noble venture taken up by the organisation.
Children�s Day: Children Day, which is observed every year on the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was celebrated at Udalguri town by two sociocultural organizations, Friends� Society and ADWR in a glittering way.
The Friends� Society arranged a day-long agenda with various competitions like quiz, on-the-spot essay writing and poetry recitation.
Ramen Deka, MP of Mangaldai LS, attended the open session as chief guest on the occasion.
On the other hand, ADWR, a project under Baptist Christian Hospital of Tezpur, also celebrated the Day in seven schools of Udalguri, Harisinga and Bengbari participated. A children�s procession with placards and banners demanding right to education and voice against child abuse, child labour was initiated with a prayer by Sarah Reeve, an occupational therapist from Australia and flagged off by Nandeswar Daimari, renowned Bodo litterateur of the region.
Jeremiah Daimari, project manager of ADWR, submitted a memorandum on the occasion to the Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri on �revamping Juvenile Justice Board and establishing a helpline for children at risk in the district which was followed by a signature campaign with the theme on �Stop child trafficking and abuse�. All the guests on the occasion along with the children took part in the signature campaign in support of the cause. It is to be noted that children with physical disability also participated in the programme with enthusiasm.
