Fake institutes dupe Manipuri students

Kavita Laithangbam *

Law and order had touched the rock-bottom in Manipur and even the teachers do not send their children to the government schools and colleges. For a long time parents have been sending their children outside Manipur against heavy financial constraints in the hope that they would settle their children. However in most cases these educated children are just statistics in the army of the unemployed youths.

Some dubious persons who are floating fake institutes, mostly under fake or unrecognised universities, have been taking the Manipuri students for a ride. Touts and commission agents of several hotel management institutes in Kolkata rush to Imphal (significantly Imphal only and no other NE state) to rope in students who have just passed the 12th examination.

What these institutes run mostly in some rented rooms do is to impart distant learning through some well known universities. A very nominal fee is paid to the universities by the hotel management schools whereas they are extorting huge fees from the helpless students. The Management institute where I am now doing my post graduate in tourism is under a well known university of Odissa. Though I had heard that Odissa is a peaceful and congenial place for serious studies I had no prior contact with any institute. Some former students had recommended this institute.

I did not feel anything was amiss. There is a congenial atmosphere for studies and the teachers and other officials were very helpful. But after one year or so something disturbing had loomed. The senior students who should have left the institute to do some jobs elsewhere were seen still in the hostels and there was no regular class.

Besides there was no academic calendar like number of classes and examination schedules. When inquiries were made the officials and senior professors were evasive and stalled for time. After several months of this hide and seek game my father who is a journalist threatened to expose the hanky-panky business.

By this time the institute managed to get a document which said that the institute was affiliated to the university. My father had it confirmed through his journalist friends to learn that the affiliation is valid till the end of this year. It means that if I do not pass out I will be one of the students who will be doomed.

It was learned that the institute did not fulfil several conditions set by the university team relating to infrastructure and other academic facilities. The students are not out of wood as yet since it cannot be said that the examinations shall be over within the affiliation period. This should be seen in the light of the UGC notifications giving a long list of fake universities from time to time.

But the students and parents never watch out while getting admitted anywhere in the country. They learn too late. The number of students who had been taken for a ride in this manner is increasing. The education department in Manipur has failed to provide standard education to the students and it is an undeniable fact.

However the department could save several students if it reproduces the official website to create awareness among the students. In such an eventuality the students could avoid the death traps. Besides in a positive note the government could give important information and tips on institutes in different states so that the students could make their own selections.

In absence of such assistances from the government the students are plunging in the dark and deep pit and many of them are left holding the empty sacks after wasting money and time. Some students' groups had imposed certain welcome conditions on the institutes of other states which send their touts to rope in students. To the best of my knowledge these conditions were trashed by the touts.

Since the government will not help the students this much it becomes advisable that the students' organisations in different states assist the students with vital information. After all the students' organisations in Manipur and other states are for the general welfare of the student community.

A sad story is that students who have to take connecting flights from Kolkata are forced to search for their own accommodation for one night involving huge expense and risks since the Manipur houses at Kolkata are out of bounds for the students. In sharp contrast, students from other NE states can get rooms readily in their states' houses by paying about Rs 20 each.

The Manipur houses at different cities are for the Ministers, MLAs, high officials and their minions and hangers on. The government owes an explanation to the people for this anti-people policy.