Sri Vijaya Puram, March 23: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, today raised during Zero Hour in Parliament the genuine demand of the Islanders for establishment of a Central University in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
While drawing the attention of the Central Government to this important issue, the Hon’ble MP strongly appealed that the proposal for setting up a Deemed University in the Islands may be dropped. He pointed out that the Islanders have already expressed their strong opposition to the said proposal and, in this connection, a peaceful bandh was observed across the entire Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This, he said, clearly reflects the public sentiment and the aspirations of the people of these Islands for a full-fledged Central University rather than a Deemed University.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray emphasized that a proper Central University may be set up in A&N Islands on the pattern of Central Universities established in various parts of the country by the Government of India between 2014 to 2021 where set up 09 Central universities, including Ladakh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh etc. Besides this, in Delhi 03 central universities have been provided, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Pondicherry and other regions have been established central universities. He stated that establishment of a Central University in A&N Islands would be a historic and transformative step for the educational advancement of the Islands and would open wider opportunities for higher studies, research, skill development and professional education for the local students.
The Hon’ble MP further made a sincere appeal to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to sympathetically consider for establishment of a Central University in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, in view of the geographical isolation of the Islands and the long-standing educational needs of the Island population.
He also urged that, till such time a Central University is established in the Islands, the existing affiliation of all colleges in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands with Pondicherry University should be allowed to continue.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray reiterated that the demand for a Central University is a legitimate and justified aspiration of the Islanders and deserves urgent and favourable consideration by the Central Government in the larger interest of students and the future development of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands