Our Correspondent
Wokha, May 27 (EMN): Much to the relief of students aspiring to pursue technical courses, the Government Polytechnic Doyang, Wokha (GPDW) was inaugurated on Friday, more than a decade after its foundation stone was laid.
Established in March 2021 under the aegis of Higher and Technical Education department and affiliated to SCTE, the new polytechnic institute was sanctioned in 2008 before its foundation stone was laid in 2011.
The institute was finally inaugurated on May 27 jointly by Minister for Higher Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along and Advisor of Technical Education and Election Medo Yhokha, in the presence of Advisor for Border Affairs and Horticulture Mhathung Yanthan and other officials.
Speaking at the event, Yanthan lamented the delay and called upon the administration and all stakeholders to work on covering the lost ground incurred over more than a decade. He said there is a huge challenge ahead as the institute is still in an infant stage with no basic amenities or adequate infrastructure, while apprising the concerned department to provide necessary facilities at the earliest.
He said the Education department need to come up with certain measures and guidelines for safety and healthy environment, as the polytechnic institute is located near a major water body, Doyang.
While highlighting the availability of fruits and vegetables in the district, he also suggested if the department could introduce a course in food technology, besides architecture, in the next academy session, saying that it could help people in the food industry.
Meanwhile, he invited students from various districts take advantage of the first technical institute at Doyang. He also urged the neighbouring villagers to have a sense of belongingness.
Imna Along said that land ownership is one of the major problems that cause delay in commencement of projects in Nagaland. He also called upon the people to shed egoistic mindset, saying that it holds back social progress.
While lauding Yanthan for his resilience and taking personal interest in the polytechnic in Doyang, he said students from different districts can now come to study near one of the beautiful landscapes in the state.
He appealed to the people to send their children to the institute, saying that architecture is a job-oriented course. He also informed the teaching faculty to impart quality education to students.
Also speaking at the event, Yhokha said education should not be a one way process and expressed hope that the polytechnic institute will grow through the capable teaching staff. He told the people to have faith and patience, adding that the institute could offer various courses in near future apart from the existing diploma in architecture.
He also informed that the government is always willing to bring development and change to the state, for which he sought support and co-operation from the people.
While expressing optimism that the institute could become a learning centre in technical education, he urged the people not to play blame game over the delay but move forward.
The advisor of Technical Education and Election updated that INR 4.3 crore had been utilised for procuring study materials, laboratory and other requirements for imparting technical education in the institute.
On the request by Pangti Village Council to change the name of the institute from Government Polytechnic Doyang to Government Polytechnic Pangti, he said the request has been forwarded to DPDB as it has to come through formal protocol.
Speaking on the restructuring and developmental activities, he lauded Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for taking up various developmental programmes with keen interest, while calling upon the people to repose their faith in his leadership. He also lauded Mhanthung Yanthan for his vision.
It may be mentioned that the Government Polytechnic Doyang will initially offer a three-year diploma course in Architecture Engineering from this academic year (starting July 2022) with an intake of 15 students as approved by the Council of Indian Architecture.