CM lays foundation stone for Sikkim Global Technical University in Namchi

NAMO DIXIT

NAMCHI, : Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamangon Tuesday laid the foundation stone for Sikkim Global Technical University (SGTU) at Singtam Ward under Rong-Bul GPU in Namchi district.

The Chief Minister was joined by Deputy Speaker Raj Kumari Thapa, Education minister Raju Basnet, Urban Development minister Bhoj Raj Rai, MLAs Satish Chandra Rai, Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia and N.B. Pradhan, former Namchi-Singithang MLA and CM’s spouse Krishna Kumari Rai, SGTU pro-chancellor Dr.AnkurJohri, chancellor Saurav Singh Dal, registrar Dr.Saurabh Singal, Namchi BDO, zilla members, councillors and panchayats.

It was informed that SGTU will provide undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the following nine schools: Engineering and Technology, Computer Science and IT, Commerce and Management, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Sciences, Library and Information Sciences, Vocational Studies, Agriculture and Hotel Management

PhD courses will also be introduced soon. The university currently holds 10 acres of land, with planned infrastructure including a multi-storeyed academic building, cafeteria, playground, fountain, auditorium, laboratories and hostels for both boys and girls.

The Chief Minister, in his address, emphasized that new universities will be established in rural areas, rather than Gangtok, to boost societal development. He highlighted Rong-Bul GPU’s favourable geological conditions and aspirational community as reasons for choosing it as the SGTU location.

He also directed SGTU to abide by Sikkim’s minimum wage law of Rs. 15,000 per month and assured government support when necessary.

The Chief Minister also announced that 500-beded hospital at Namchi will be inaugurated on May 21 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also shared that the government will work on mega water supply project in Namchi district. “Be it from Dzongu or Changu, we will bring the water. We will spend crores of rupees even if we have to,” he stated.

While responding to demands put forward by Namchi Singhithang MLA during the event, the Chief Minister announced new premises for district administrative centre, tourism improvements, road widening and flyovers in key locations and transformation of Central Park to amphitheatre.  He further announced construction of a mini-stadium, guest house and wellness park in Namchi.  

Golay also announced extension of Namchi Bazaar towards Maniram-Bhanjyang GPU, new government institutions, Sikkim Medical Science University at Maniram-Bhanjyang, BDO office at Kopchey, and construction of monasteries, Brahma kumari centres and Mangkhims in Namchi town.

Golay also informed that only students from government schools and those passing the National Eligibility Test (NET) will receive government support for higher studies including MBBS and engineering. He added that health workers (ANS) unwilling to work night shifts will be demoted.

During the event, the panchayats of Rong-Bul GPU felicitated the Chief Minister. The SGTU felicitated Krishna KumariRai, MLA Satish Chandra Rai, SKM CLC president Tashi Dorjee and vice-president Milan Rai for their support in establishing the university.

Additionally, students of SGTU received certificates from the Chief Minister for successfully completing courses in Media Influencing and Computer Science.