Sikkim Professional University campus inaugurated at Budang West Sikkim to become major education hub in future: CM

KUSH HANG LEEWANG
GEYZING: Chief Minister P.S. Golay on Saturday inaugurated the newly established Sikkim Professional University (SPU) campus at Budang, Soreng subdivision.
The SPU has been established at the campus of former EILLM University which was closed down due to non-compliance of the UGC norms. The campus was later acquired by the State government and allocated to the SPU.
The SPU, formerly Vinayaka Missions University, was established under an Act in 2008. The university was renamed as SPU in 2020 through the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. Jeen Universal Foundation of Delhi has taken over the governance of this university since 2017. The foundation also runs three other universities at Aligarh, Jabalpur and Usha Martin University.
The SPU has all the necessary statutory endorsements and offers degree courses in pharmacy, science, business administration, commerce and other streams.
SPU chairman Hemant Kumar Goyal, addressing the inaugural function, informed that university proposes to offer degree courses in technology, agriculture, arts and science also through its Budang campus. Many innovative programmes are planned to create trained human resource pool in Sikkim, he said. He added that talks are on with the State government for introduction of B.Sc Nursing.
In his inaugural address, Chief Minister P.S. Golay said the establishment of Sikkim Professional University (SPU) at Budang in West Sikkim was a historical moment and a major achievement in education sector of the State. Besides students from Sikkim, students from other States and abroad could pursue educational courses of their interest in this university, he said.
Golay expressed that the SPU establishment at Budang would also help locals in many ways and employment opportunities as the university needs human resources to run it. He appealed the SPU management to consider locals in employment opportunities in the university as per criteria.
“Don't bring people from outside Sikkim to fill up the posts in the university other than the posts of faculty members. Locals should be employed in the university. Why should we open a university when the local interests go ignored?” the Chief Minister said.
Speaking on education sector, Golay announced that the Science College at Soreng would be upgraded to a Centre of Excellence soon. The centre would be established at 32 acres of land and the process for land acquisition has begun, he said adding that the centre will have all the educational facilities.
Development of educational institutions will change the face of West Sikkim and the western region of Sikkim will become a major education hub in near future, Golay added.
On infrastructural development of educational institutions, the Chief Minister maintained that the primary schools of the State would be given utmost importance for infrastructural development.
The Chief Minister spoke on various public welfare schemes to be initiated in the State in near future. “The SKM government will focus on development of Sikkim as a whole but not on individuals. Unlike former SDF government, benefit given to the people will not be defined as development. Our mission is to serve Sikkim and Sikkimese as a whole without inequity and favouritism", he said.
Area MLA Aditya Golay, in his brief speech, reiterated the commitment of SKM government for development of Soreng-Chakung constituency and the State as a whole. He shared that with the establishment of SPU and upgradation of Soreng Science College as a Centre of Excellence, Soreng-Chakung constituency would be able cater the holistic educational needs of the people in an efficient way.