The Tripura government has accorded greater priority to research and innovation in higher education, with several initiatives being undertaken to encourage students to engage in scientific research, technology and innovative activities, Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman said in the state Assembly on the second day of Monsoon session of Friday.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Ranjit Das during the session, Barman said that 17 “College Biotech Clubs” have so far been established in colleges across the state to encourage students to take an interest in modern science and create an environment conducive to innovative thinking and research.
He said the clubs are organizing seminars, workshops, lectures, field visits, social surveys, laboratory-based experiments, field studies, electronic technology activities, desktop publishing projects and visits to industrial establishments, enabling students to gain practical exposure.
The Higher Education Minister also said arrangements have been made to provide undergraduate students with access to electronic journals, books and research equipment to familiarize them with literature review and research methodologies.
According to Barman, construction of new science buildings is underway at Udaipur's Netaji Subhash Mahavidyalaya and MBB College. He also said legislation has been enacted to transform the Tripura Institute of Technology into a technical university.
Over the past three years, a total of 14,302 students at the degree and diploma levels in colleges across the state have participated in various research and innovation activities, the minister said.
In a written reply to another question from MLA Sudip Roy Barman, the Higher Education Minister said the state government had allocated Rs 89.77 crore during the last three financial years for infrastructure development in government colleges. Of this, Rs 85.27 crore has already been spent.
He said new buildings have been constructed at five colleges, research laboratories have been established at seven colleges, a library has been set up at one college, and smart classrooms have been introduced at 15 colleges.
The government has also planned construction of new buildings at eight colleges during the coming financial year. These include Rabindranath Tagore Mahavidyalaya in Bishalgarh, Michael Madhusudan Dutta College in Sabroom, Swami Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya in Mohanpur, Ambedkar College in Fatikroy, Adwaita Mallabarman Smriti Mahavidyalaya in Kamalpur, Bir Bikram Memorial College in Agartala, Dasarath Deb Memorial College in Khowai and a government degree college in Kakraban.
In another written reply to MLA Ashok Chandra Mitra, Barman said that 41 government colleges are currently functioning under the Higher Education Department in the state. These comprise 29 government general degree colleges, five professional colleges, six polytechnic institutes and one technical college.
The total student enrolment in these institutions currently stands at 69,677, the minister said.
The initiatives, the minister said, are aimed at strengthening infrastructure and creating greater opportunities for students to pursue research, innovation and technology-oriented learning in higher education institutions across Tripura.