Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat
Dakshin Dinajpur University could soon expand its academic offerings with seven new departments, following an assurance at a state administrative meeting that the pending approvals would be expedited. The university may also receive an additional month to complete admissions for the current academic year, according to information emerging from Wednesday’s meeting in Balurghat.Vice-Chancellor Professor Pranab Ghosh raised the university’s academic and infrastructural difficulties during the meeting, drawing attention to the institution’s limited facilities. At present, the university is conducting classes in an old building without a permanent campus and offers only three subjects.
The university has sought approval from the Higher Education Department to introduce seven additional subjects this academic year. The proposed departments are Bengali, Sanskrit, History, Education, Chemistry, Geography and Philosophy.The pending proposals were discussed at the meeting, with an assurance that the matter would be taken up with the Higher Education Department and that the necessary approvals would be expedited. The proposed departments are expected to widen access to higher education for students in the district, many of whom have long had limited opportunities to study these subjects locally.The admission schedule was another issue discussed at the meeting. Although September 30 has been set as the deadline for admissions, the university may be allowed an additional month if necessary. Such an extension could become particularly significant if the new departments receive approval in time for admissions.
The university’s proposed permanent campus at Mahinagar in Balurghat also figured prominently in the discussions. Around 11 acres of land have been allocated for the institution, but its proximity to the airport could impose restrictions on the height and design of future buildings. Any construction plan, it was indicated, would therefore have to take aviation-related requirements into account.The university is estimated to require around Rs 200 crore to develop the necessary infrastructure. Funding from the state government has been discussed, while efforts may also be made to mobilise financial support from Members of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.Professor Ghosh said he was encouraged by the response at the meeting and expressed satisfaction that the university’s concerns had received attention.
The proposed expansion has been welcomed by sections of the district’s education community, who believe the seven departments could significantly broaden the university’s academic profile and provide more local students with access to higher education.The role of Balurghat MP and Union Minister of State for Education and DoNER, Dr Sukanta Majumdar, has also been highlighted in discussions surrounding the university’s development. Balurghat MLA Bidyut Kumar Roy has also repeatedly raised issues concerning the university in the state Assembly, according to those associated with the initiative.Dr Ripan Saha, a native of Dakshin Dinajpur, Professor of Mathematics at Raiganj University and Controller of Examinations at Dakshin Dinajpur University, described the proposed expansion as a potentially transformative step for higher education in the district.
“The introduction of these seven proposed departments is undoubtedly a landmark initiative for higher education in the district,” Dr Saha said. “It will give many students an opportunity to pursue higher studies in subjects of their choice and further expand the university’s academic reach.”For a university still operating without its own permanent campus, the proposed departments and the promised investment represent more than an expansion of its course list. They could mark an important step toward turning Dakshin Dinajpur University into a broader and more established centre of higher education in the district.
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