Imphal: Chief Minister N. Biren Singh inaugurated the Art and Culture building and an Open Gym and laid foundation stones for a 33/11 KVA Sub Station and swimming pool inside the Manipur University campus, today.
Addressing a formal function in this connection inside the Manipur University Auditorium as the Chief Guest on Monday, N. Biren Singh stressed on the importance of a gym to keep a fit body in the modern world where physical movement has decreased.
The Chief Minister said that all educational institutes including Universities, schools and colleges are temples and those coming out successfully from these institutes, especially the university, contribute, guide and shape the society.
Acknowledging the importance of a university, the Chief Minister said that the government has always tried not to neglect any issue or proposal concerning the university.
The Chief Minister further assured to ensure that the construction of swimming pool is completed within a year.
Reminding that he was attending a function in the same auditorium in the presence of the Vice President of India in May 2023 when the unfortunate violence in the State broke out, the Chief Minister prayed for peace to return in the State.
N. Biren Singh also expressed the need to conduct a proper discussion on the present situation with faculties, teachers, researchers and students in the university to understand the core issues of the conflict.
Now is the time for struggle filled with many adversities and challenges, but one should be aware of the goal, he added.
The Chief Minister further talked of the responsibilities of educational institutes like universities to clear confusions of the people. Touching on issues surrounding border fencing and others, the Chief Minister said seminars or legal camps to create awareness among the people could be conducted to clear confusions.
A book, ‘Know Manipur’ has been published, N. Biren Singh said highlighting the importance of educating the people of the roots and history of the land.
Our society will move forward when people start acting with a sense of belongingness to the land and a sense of ownership of the land, he continued.
We have the talent, but we need to act with the senses of belongingness and ownership, the Chief Minister stated.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also said that educational institutes should be disturbance-free.
Manipur University Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. Lokendra Singh in his presidential speech said that because of the consistent support of the State government and the Central government that Manipur University has been able to grow from the JNU PG Centre to a full-fledged Central University with 44 departments and 119 affiliated colleges, around 6900 students registered in the different departments of the university and 68,000 students registered in the different affiliated colleges of the university.
The university has been able to sustain this kind of a very steady growth because of the consistent support of the State government and the Central government, he said, highlighting the recent shifting of the Assam Rifles camp from the university campus.
The function was also attended by Ministers Th. Biswajit Singh, Th Basanta Singh, MLAs Karam Shyam, Sapam Kunjakeswor Singh, faculty, staff executive members of Manipur University Teachers’ Association and Manipur University Students’ Association and Students of Manipur University among others.
