Rongjeng (East Garo Hills), Aug 19: Another milestone and another promise fulfilled. The weight of these promises is not light, especially if it was made by the father and the son has taken it upon himself to fulfil these to keep his father’s legacy alive!
Late Purno A. Sangma may not be around anymore to witness the success his children have scaled but they have ensured that the promises he made which remained unfulfilled during his lifetime, see the light of the day. One such accomplishment is the inauguration of the Rongjeng Model Degree College at Rongjeng in East Garo Hills by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday.
The development not only adds another educational infrastructure in the State, it will help thousands of students in the area to pursue higher education as they would not need to travel outside to bigger cities.
Inaugurating the college building, the Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the establishment of the college at Rongjeng is fructification of a promise made by (L) Purno Agitok Sangma to the people of the area. “It was a long cherished dream of our leader (L) Purno Agitok Sangma, who had promised to set up a college here in Rongjeng. Today, he is not amidst us but the promise made by him to the people has been fructified,” he said.
The academic session of the degree college will begin this year with Arts Stream.
Reiterating that education has been the top most priority of the government, the Chief Minister said, “This model college is a small example of the many things that the government is doing to overhaul education in the state. As a government, we will ensure that the best opportunity is given to our student.”
He also announced that the college will be named after Late Purno Agitok Sangma. “He (P.A. Sangma) had close affinity and love for the people of Rongjeng. It will be befitting to name the college after him,” he said.
He impressed upon the people to ensure this building is converted into temple of education.
The CM further informed that necessary sanction for approach road, water connection, and other component, which were not part of the building, has been sanctioned and will be completed soon.
The new model degree college has been constructed from grants under RUSA 2.0 at a cost of Rs. 12 crore. The college was sanctioned grant under the funding priority of the scheme for under-served District in the North Eastern Region States as identified by NITI Aayog.
According to the 2011-2018 census, East Garo Hills District had a population of 52,584 and a literacy rate of 54%. Being an unserved and underserved district of the state, the district falls under Educationally Backward District (EBD).
It was also highlighted that the students have to travel to the district headquarter Williamnagar or even travel outside the district for higher education. Hence, the New Model Degree College in Rongjeng was proposed with a motive to ease out migration of students in pursue for higher education.
