SMU for starting academic courses- Assembly approves



GANGTOK, December 12: The Sikkim Legislative Assembly has passed the Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical and Technological (Amendment) Bill which empower the Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) to launch integrated course in humanities and sciences.

The ‘Health, Medical and Technological’ preamble of the SMU Act of 1995 has been omitted in the amendment making SMU a diversified university offering other educational courses apart from health, medical and technological course which it is presently offering.

The amendment Bill which had been tabled by State health minister DN Takarpa yesterday in the House and passed today by the Assembly allows SMU to make special provision for making special provision for integrated course in humanities and sciences in the educational programmes and to make appropriate measures for promoting interdisciplinary studies and research in the university. The university can also offer course in basic and applied sciences, management and commerce, education, law, liberal arts and vocational sciences in both campus and distance mode through research centre in various parts of the country and aboard.

Over the past 14 years since its establishment following an Act of 1995, the SMU has established a medical college, a nursing college, an engineering college and a college of physiotherapy in Sikkim while also offering a number of courses through the distance education mode.

A Central University is already running in Sikkim along with a couple of private universities.

Highlighting the need for interdisciplinary higher education, Takarpa in his statement of objects and reasons said that professional education in health sciences, technology and management cannot sustain itself without basic sciences and humanities.

“Thus there is a need for universities to cater to all disciplines even if they are concentrating mainly on professional education. The current provisions in the Sikkim Manipal University Act of 1995 do not specifically include Ph D programme as well as Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The university is now geared up to expand its academic programme to include course in humanities both in campus itself and as part of distance education programme by way of offering a wide choice of subject”, said Takarpa.

The Assembly also endorsed the Bill to regulate the financial establishments not
covered by Reserve Bank of India Act and the Bill to hike the housing allowances of the legislators to Rs. 14,500 per month.

source: SE