By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kishanganj (Bihar): Government of India finally appears willing to allocate the fund for special centre of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Kishanganj district in Bihar.
Almost three years after the Bihar government had transferred 224.02 acres land to AMU at Chakla village situated at the outskirts of Kishanganj town, the central government is now ready to allocate the fund for smooth functioning of the centre.
Since the land was already allocated by the Bihar government long back, there was uncertainty over the fund for a long time as no green signal came from the Central government regarding AMU Kishanganj. However, the speculations and long wait of AMU Kishanganj has virtually come to an end with an application under Right to Information (RTI) Act filed by Mohammad Mudassir Alam, a resident of Kishanganj and also alumni of AMU.
The RTI reply received on recently by Mudassir has revealed that Government of India is agreed to allocate an amount of Rs. 136.82 crore to the AMU Kishanganj Centre. The RTI reveals that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed between M/S HSCL, Kolkata and AMU to start the construction of boundary wall across the land allotted to Kishanganj Centre.
Further, the University Engineer has already made the request to Finance Officer to release of sum of Rs. 14.5 lacs (first instalment) to M/S HSCL Kolkata for starting the work. The RTI reply says the concerned official from UGC in a written communication in response to a query of AMU Registrar regarding fund for Kishanganj Centre has said that Government of Indian has agreed to allocate an amount of Rs. 136.82 crore out of which an amount of Rs. 104.23 crore earmarked for Creation of Capital Assets and remaining 32.59 crore was earmarked for Preliminary / Pre-operative Expenditure and Recurring expenses including Salary of staff etc.
A delighted Mohammad Mudassir Alam said that with the establishment of AMU Centre at Kishanganj people are eyeing the educational upliftment of the one of country’s most backward region of Seemanchal. He said, the assurance from Government of India for fund release would speed up the infrastructure development and ensure smooth functioning of the AMU Centre at Kishanganj.
Although two courses B.Ed and MBA were started at Kishanganj in a temporary building given by the government of Bihar in 2013, but the students as well as administration are facing many problems.
Mohammad Aslam, president of Human Chain who is associated with the long struggle for establishment of AMU Centre at Kishanganj thanked Mudassir for filing the RTI and bringing out the crucial information and also expressed happiness over the latest development. He said, since the government of India is agreed to allocate the fund, now the ball in the court of AMU administration. I expect the AMU administration would take fast action for receiving the fund after fulfilment of official formalities. If the fund is released shortly we can expect the proper infrastructure development of AMU Kishanganj centre along with launch of few more courses, mentioned Aslam who is also an AMU alumnus.
It should be noted that AMU Kishanganj Centre project has repeatedly hung in balance over lack of fund and other related issues. Announced in 2008-09 by UPA I government’s Minister of Human Resources and Development Arjun Singh, the special centre has raised the hopes of educationally and economically backward district of Kishanganj and adjoining areas. Even five years after the announcement the AMU Alumni from the region along with the education lovers of Bihar are impatiently waiting about the existence of full-fledged campus of AMU at Kishanganj.
RTI copies
Related:
Fund delay for AMU Kishanganj Centre