Rs. 14 crore for Jamia NE centre
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University's Centre for North East Studies is all set to get a facelift. A Rs. 14 crore grant has been provided by the University Grants Commission for the makeover.
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University's Centre for North East Studies is all set to get a facelift. A Rs. 14 crore grant has been provided by the University Grants Commission for the makeover.
The grant has been provided to the university to improve infrastructure, build a permanent building from where the Centre will operate and to fund its staff appointments and recurring expenses.
"This is a recognition of our commitment to one of the least studied regions of the country. This will help build bridges and foster a better, more nuanced understanding of this region. Through this, we will also be able to understand better the deeper problems, which are hidden by the headlines," said Najeeb Jung, vice chancellor, JMI.
The Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research had been conceptualised and developed by Sanjoy Hazarika, who also said that the funds would now be used to create a 'north-east house' with conference rooms, classrooms, cultural programmes, including a research and documentation space on the premises.
"This is a great encouragement and our vision is to create a dedicated space for all eight states, support new scholars and take up issues of critical concern to the region and its people," said Hazarika, who is also a columnist and author.
This, he added, would also broaden the scope of the Centre, providing ample scope for research and fieldwork too.
"We look forward to collaborating with institutions and scholars from the region and abroad, for critical examination of problems with a sharper focus. Policy makers would benefit from such rigorous research, which would be informed by field work and realities."