Jammu, January 27: The positive stance being taken by The Earth News since its inception to raise voice for the ignored and deprived section of society with practical and viable solutions seems to have begun to bear fruits as our suggestions through these columns have reached to the quarters where decisions are taken with the result positive developments are taking place for the state.
The readers might recall the September 17, 2015 issue of The Earth News where we had pitched for an International Buddhist University for Ladkah to compensate this deprived region for getting sidelined between the tussle of Kashmir and Jammu regions over discrimination issue.
We had discussed how Ladkah is being marginalized in-spite of being largest province of the state facing political and developmental apathy which was also highlighted by another local newspaper thus appreciating the initiative of The Earth News.
In this regard The Earth News had also suggested for an International Buddhist University for the region as a befitting tribute to the peace loving and nationalist people of Ladkah as a first step.
The suggestion seems to have been finally heard and as due to the impact of our story some developments are taking place which will go a long way in addressing the genuine issues of Ladkahis.
According to a press release issued by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, through Press Information Bureau today the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) shall be a deemed-to-be-university, provisionally for a period of five years, under the de novo category.
The release which vindicates the stand taken by The Earth News seeking a University in Ladkah reads, “The Central Government, on the advice of the UGC, has declared that ‘Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), Choglamsar, Leh (Ladakh), Jammu & Kashmir, shall be a deemed-to-be-university for the purpose of the UGC Act,1956, provisionally, for a period of five years under the de novo category, from the date CIBS disaffiliates itself for its courses / programmes from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi and Tibetan Medicines and Astrology Department, Dharamsala.
The declaration of CIBS as deemed-to-be-university shall be confirmed after five years on the basis of five successive annual performance reports of UGC Expert Committee(s). This has been notified on 15th January 2016 for publication in Gazette of India Part-1, Section-1.
The declaration made shall be subject to following conditions:
I. UGC Regulations (Institutions Deemed to be University) 2010 amended in the year 2014 and 2015 and any further amendments, and guidelines of UGC issued from time to time with respect to Deemed to be University shall be binding on the CIBS.
II. Notwithstanding anything in (I) above, the declaration is further subject to the following conditions:
a) The CIBS shall amend / update its Memorandum of Association (MoA)/Rules, as and when necessary, in consultation & concurrence with the UGC/Government of India. The Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) shall also carry out amendments / improvements, if any, suggested by the Government of India or the UGC, in its MoA/Rules.
b) The CIBS shall not offer any distance education programmes.
c) The CIBS shall not open or operate any off campus(s)/off shore campus(es) / new Department(s) without prior approval of the UGC and the Government of India.
d) CIBS is also not permitted to affiliate any college(s) / institution(s).
e) CIBS shall not undertake franchising of higher education which is not permissible under any circumstances.
f) The academic programmes offered or to be offered by CIBS will conform to the norms and standards prescribed by the relevant Statutory Councils.
g) The CIBS shall not offer / award, as the case may be, any degrees that are not specified by the UGC. It shall also ensure that the nomenclatures of the degrees, etc. to be awarded by it are specified by the UGC under Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.
h) All the prescribed norms and procedures of the relevant Statutory Councils and other authorities concerned in the matter of admission of students, intake capacity of students, starting of new courses/ programmes, renewal of approval to the courses, etc. will continue to be in force, and shall be adhered to by the CIBS.
- The CIBS shall take all necessary steps to comply with the observations and suggestions, if any, of the Expert Committee of the UGC as made out in its relevant Inspection Report.”
While congratulating the people of Ladkah and thanking the Ministry of Human Resources Development, GOI, The Earth News takes pride in providing a platform to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for not only to highlight the issues concerning them but also providing positive, practical and viable solutions to make the society a better place to live in.