Chief minister Arjun Munda today emphasised the need to harness human resources in a mineral resource rich state as he announced two new colleges exclusively for women in the capital and a university centre dedicated to research.
Addressing academics, teachers and students on the occasion of the 51st foundation day of Ranchi University, Munda said he was concerned about the poor state of human resources in Jharkhand and would do everything possible to ensure quality higher education for the youth.
He added that land would be identified for Ranchi University in the city to set up a centre dedicated exclusively for research. “It is true that the state has lots of mineral resources. But my aim is to make the state rich in human resource as well,” Munda said, but did not set a timeframe for either the research centre nor the new colleges.
At present, the capital has three colleges exclusively for women — Ranchi Women’s College, Marwari College (women’s wing) and Nirmala College, the latter run by Christian missionaries. Together the three colleges offer 17,000 seats in different subjects.
In Jamshedpur, Jamshedpur Women’s College and Graduate College for Women are the two institutions of higher learning exclusively for women, offering about 8,000 seats between them.
Other colleges in Ranchi like St Xavier’s, Ranchi College, S.S. Memorial College and J.N. College also admit girls, and the institutions cater to students not only from the capital, but also from rural areas like Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega and Khunti.
Munda said educating women was akin to educating society given the role women played in shaping the overall outlook of every family. He, however, expressed concern over the large number of dropouts in the primary and secondary levels.
“There are many problems in Jharkhand, which can only be solved through education for all,” said Munda.
Today, the chief minister inaugurated an Information and Knowledge e-Centre — a multi-storey building constructed by Ranchi University on the Central Library campus. The centre offers international books and journals online and also hosts two study halls.
Vice chancellor A.A. Khan said Ranchi University was on the path of becoming a good centre of learning. “We have 120 students who are under the Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship. No other university in Bihar or Jharkhand can boast that figure,” said Khan.
The UGC fellowship offers students pursuing doctoral studies Rs 12,000 per month.
Khan added the three postgraduate science departments — physics, geology and mathematics — would soon be shifted to the new Institute of Basic Sciences, a building that has come up in front of Ranchi College.
Pro vice chancellor V.P. Sharan and other faculty members were among those who attended the function. A cultural programme was also organised at Maulana Azad Senate Hall to mark the occasion.
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