Sri Vijaya Puram, July 28: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has strongly opposed the proposed “Draft Andaman & Nicobar Islands Private University Regulation, 2026” and demanded the establishment of a Central University exclusively dedicated to the students of the Islands.
ABVP Secretary Satyajit Halder, through a representation submitted to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, stated that private universities are not an appropriate solution to the long-standing higher education needs of the Islands. Considering the geographical isolation, economic conditions and limited higher education opportunities in the Union Territory, ABVP has urged the Government to prioritise a fully funded Central University that can provide affordable, accessible and quality education to island students.
ABVP raised concerns regarding the possible commercialisation of higher education, unaffordable fee structures, educational inequality, inadequate scholarship provisions and the potential weakening of existing government colleges. The organisation also emphasised that valuable public land should be utilised for strengthening public education rather than facilitating private educational ventures.
The student organisation has called for strengthening the existing seven government colleges through improved infrastructure, modern laboratories, digital libraries, hostels, research facilities, faculty recruitment and skill-development programmes.
ABVP has further proposed the establishment of specialised centres of excellence focusing on marine sciences, fisheries, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, disaster management, tribal studies, tourism and sustainable island development.
The organisation has also demanded extensive public consultation involving students, parents, teachers, education experts, public representatives and civil society organisations before any final decision is taken on the proposed legislation.
Among its major demands, ABVP has urged the Administration to stop the proposed NSCBIHL-Deemed University and the proposed Private University Regulation, 2026, and immediately recommend to the Government of India the establishment of a Central University for the students of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
ABVP has also demanded increased government-funded scholarships, fellowships, hostel facilities and financial assistance for island students, along with greater employment opportunities for qualified local residents in higher educational institutions.
ABVP Secretary Satyajit Halder stated that students of the Islands have waited for decades for a world-class public university and that private or deemed universities cannot substitute the need for a Central University. He emphasised that the long-term interests of the youth of the Islands require an affordable, inclusive, high-quality and research-oriented public higher education system.