West Bengal: MP Raju Bista proposes Central University in Darjeeling

The Central University can play a pivotal role in ensuring the planned development of the entire North Bengal region, said MP Raju Bista

In a bid to boost the education sector and facilitating regional development in the region, Member of Parliament Raju Bista today presented a Private Member’s Bill–‘Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022’ in the Parliament today to establish the Central University in Darjeeling.

MP Raju Bista stressed the urgent need for a strong higher education institution in the area, pointing out that Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong have a rich history of housing some of India’s oldest and most prominent schools.

“Lack of proper higher education facilities in the region had resulted in massive brain-drain, and the best and the brightest from our Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, Terai and Dooars region are forced to take their knowledge, skills and passion elsewhere,” he said.

He said, “The establishment of an institution of higher and technical learning in Darjeeling has been a long-standing aspiration and pertinent demand of the people of our region. Establishing a Central University in Darjeeling will enable our region to become a hubs for higher education in India, and an important education center in all of South and South East Asia.”

The MP said that the Central University in Darjeeling will greatly compliment Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Act East Policy’, and help India build stronger ties with South Asian and South East Asian nations, besides addressing the educational needs of the youths from the region.

The Central University can play a pivotal role in ensuring the planned development of the entire North Bengal region, he added.

“I am most hopeful that the Government will take cognizance of the issue and announce the establishment of Central University in Darjeeling, along with the announcements concerning PPS and 11 Gorkha ST issues at the earliest,” he added.

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