SRINAGAR: Amidst raging controversy over State Universities Act, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the Government is flexible on many issues and will consider suggestions given by the Higher Education experts as this sector has to be run by them and not the Government or the administration, newspaper Daily Excelsior reported.
His remarks came amidst opposition to the State Universities Act by some of the University Associations, faculty and other bodies who cited that the Universities will lose autonomy if the new Act is implemented.
Even ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also expressed reservations over the bill.
“The State Universities Act is under discussions these days. I talked to Kansal (Rohit), outgoing Administrative Secretary of Higher Education Department, but he is now proceeding on the Central deputation and couldn’t hold discussions with you,” according to report Sinha said addressing an event at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women, Gandhi Nagar which was attended among others by Vice Chancellors of various Universities and Principals of Degree Colleges.
“We are flexible on many issues,” the Lieutenant Government said.
Asserting that some basic issues were incorporated (in the State Universities Act) after lengthy consultations, he, however, said: “Your suggestions will be considered” (a reference towards Higher Education experts present among the gathering).
“After all, the Higher Education has to be run by you and not me or the Chief Secretary,” Sinha said pointing towards the experts.
At the same time, he said, he will urge them to ensure that the system in place should be such that “we achieve the targets as I have mentioned”.
Asserting that the bill was brought after lot of consultations, Sinha said he has discussed the issue with many Vice Chancellors.
The Lieutenant Governor was all praise for outgoing Administrative Secretary of Higher Education Department Rohit Kansal for doing excellent work in the department in short span of time. He expressed confidence that Kansal will return soon saying they will miss him.
It may be mentioned here that Kansal is proceeding on Central deputation.
The Lieutenant Governor said India has become world’s fifth largest economy.
“We are a five trillion dollar economy and at fifth place in the world today. We want to become 10 trillion dollar economy to reach the third place in the world,” he asserted.
Sinha pointed out that even in ancient times when India was called ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ (golden sparrow), “it was a strong economy because we were knowledge economy and knowledge superpower”.
The country can again become so because of the New Education Policy (NEP), the newspaper Daily Excelsior quoted Sinha as having said.
