Consider this, A Student nominated by the Government of Nagaland to undergo various technical courses, through the JEE 2006, will have to pay the following Admission Fees:
1. BHMS (Homeopathy) in Asansol, West Bengal- Rs.1, 04,000/- (Rupees One lakh and four thousand only) in the first year, and Rs.14, 000/- (Rupees fourteen thousand only) each for the subsequent years till the completion of the course.
2. BHMS in Arunachal Pradesh costs- Rs.54, 000/- (Rupees fifty-four thousand only) in the first year, and Rs.42, 000/- (Rupees forty-two thousand only) in the subsequent years. Entailing a total expenditure of Rs.2, 22,000/- (Rupees two lakhs twenty-two thousand only)* till completion of the 5 years course.
3. Engineering in Khandesh College, Maharashtra- Rs.35, 000/-+Rs.7, 500/-+Rs.9000/- = Rs.51, 500/- (Rupees fifty-one thousand five hundred only) per annum.
4. BVSC (Veterinary Science) as advertised recently in the local dailies, costs Rs.2, 00,000/- that is to be borne by the State Government and the student concerned in the ratio of 50:50. Thereby passing on a burden of Rs.1, 00,000/-(Rupees one lakh only) on the student.
These fees are in exclusion of all other fees and expenditures that will be required of the student. Much more outrageous amounts is required of the student desiring to undergo most of the other course of technical Studies made available to the students, through the ‘Nagaland State Quota.’
Scholarships enjoyed by the students amounts to Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred) per month. And Book Grant made available is less than Rs.2, 000/- (Rupees two thousand only) per annumn. Such Amounts could have been considered reasonable, a decade back. But it hardly alleviates the financial burden suffered by the student these days. It requires urgent revision.Itmay be pertinent to note that, till some years back, the government does its duty by paying for the seats. Only amounts less than Rs.3, 000/-
Approximately (Rupees three thousand only) were passed on the students towards annual Admission fees.
Certain Departments, under the Government of Nagaland is understood to have piled up a backlog of arrears, over the years, to the various Technical Educational Institutes/ Colleges, for the allotted ‘quota of seats’ to the state of Nagaland. Moreover attempts are being made by the departments to avoid responsibility for certain stream of technical studies, even though; they fall under their department. Such neglect and insensitivity* *seriously risks the seats allotted to Nagaland being drastically slashed in the near future. Thereby shattering the prospects to undergo technical course of studies for the future generations.
The prevailing conditions and the emerging trends will have a direct bearing on:
1. Widening the class divide between the Haves and Havenots in Nagaland.
2. Result in a lot of frustration for the meritorious but poor students benefiting the financially better off students, irrespective of their merit. Moreover, the students who have worked so hard throughout their entire lives that they may be able to realize their dreams, may in all probability, turn against their parents and or the society. These will result in unhappy broken homes, anti-socials and criminals, and irreparable damage to the future Naga society.
The Authorities concerned will have to answer, if they have made necessary budgetary allowances to pay for technical studies seats made available to Nagaland. Or if it is arbitrarily diverted. And if so, was there a greater purpose to merit diversion of funds to some other heads, or blame it on incompetence and other inane excuses. A Government that neglects the interest of the youth and sows seed for a bleak future has no right to govern. I, on behalf of the students, appeal to the Government to accord due consideration and urgency to correct these miserable state of affairs, so that our youths may pursue their professional course of studies successfully, without undue burden and pressure on their young shoulders. It is hoped that, the JEE 2006 nominated students, may be benefited by your expeditious and judicious action.
Hukato Chishi
Paramedical Colony, Kohima
