CM Himanta Biswa Sarma lays foundation stone of Auniati University

SARMA HOLDS TALKS WITH RIO

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated the newly built auditorium at Jorhat Engineering College. The state-of-the-art modern auditorium was constructed with Rs 4.65 crore donated by Oil India Ltd under CSR.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that engineering colleges of the state must strive for achieving excellence at the IIT level while continuously engaging in research and innovation. He called on the young engineers to take up the challenge of breaking free from traditional practices while endeavouring to bring innovation to everyday life. He announced that Rs 25 crore would be provided to JEC for research, innovation and incubation.

Saying that technology has advanced so much that the new age engineers in the state must try to adapt themselves in tune with the latest technologies while continuously trying to upgrade their skills and knowledge. He said that in the construction of roads, bridges and houses traditional practices are still being followed and he called on the engineers to make technology cost-effective and explore ways of utilizing local resources like bamboo for various construction purposes. He said the engineers in the state must strive towards bringing the latest technologies while intellectually contributing to India's journey of growth.

The Chief Minister also informed that from next year the process of faculty recruitment in engineering colleges and technical institutes would be streamlined for filling up the vacancies every year. He thanked JEC and OIL for naming the auditorium after an ex-student of JEC and an OIL employee Arnab Kishore Bordoloi who lost his life in the Baghjan oilfield blowout incident. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the alumni association office at the JEC campus which is going to be built by ex-student Anupam Sarma.

MLAs Hitendra Nath Goswami, Renupama Rajkhowa, Rupjyoti Kurmi, Bhaskarjyoti Baruah, DC Jorhat Ashok Barman, Principal JEC Rita Sarma, Basin Manager of Oil Manash Sarma were also present on the occasion among other dignitaries.

Earlier the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of Auniati University at the Auniati Sakha Satra at Kaliapani, Teok in Jorhat.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said that the Auniati Satra has a glorious legacy of spiritualism and moral teachings and the new university would be able to produce morally and spiritually strong citizens for the society. He said that Indian civilization has always been nurtured by the inquisitiveness for knowledge and he expressed optimism that this university will sustain that urge for finding knowledge.

Highlighting that there is a high rate of dropout of students going into higher education, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said that more universities and institutes of higher education must be set up for minimizing dropout. He informed that the state government has decided to upgrade several colleges into universities to fill the gap and Auniati University will be able to contribute to furthering the cause of higher education in the state. The future society depends on able citizens with high moral and humanistic values and Auniati University will be able to produce such citizens for the society, he opined.

The Chief Minister also announced an amount of Rs. 5 crores from the state government for the university and assured of more help in the future.

The Chief Minister also paid a visit to Lachit Borphukan's Maidam at Jorhat and offered his tributes. He announced Rs. 1 crore for the preservation and development of the maidam.

Earlier in the morning, the Chief Minister held a meeting with his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio at Jorhat Circuit House. Both the Chief Minister's discussed several issues of mutual interest, a press release said.

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