The Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) is once again in the news. Last time, it was regarding the controversy surrounding the long-awaited recruitment results of Assistant Professors in different disciplines. Founded in 2017, DMU includes five constituent colleges: DM College of Arts, DM College of Science, DM College of Commerce, GP Women’s College, and LMS Law College. For more than six years, the Manipur government has been running the Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) like a government college through bureaucrats, and that too without a faculty of its own while utilising the services of the government college teachers posted at the five premier colleges of the state.
The only saving grace is a Vice-Chancellor who was appointed in 2021. We had raised the question of non-appointment of a VC and faculty members of the University in the past. DM University came into existence in April 2018 under The Dhanamanjuri University Act, 2017. In the year 2021, university authorities came up with a notification for appointment of 88 Assistant Professors spread across 22 disciplines or subjects. By then, state authorities had come to their senses and a regular VC was appointed whose term was 3 years as mandated by the DMU Act. The results of the interview for recruiting faculty members and non-teaching staff were kept pending.
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However, the results for faculty members were declared just before the regular VC demitted office after completion of his term, but the selected ones have not been given offer forms or issued appointment orders. Once again, the reins of DMU administration has gone back to the administrative secretary of the government. The reasons cited for delay in declaration of interview results include among others financial health of the state, importance of the posts and availability of ‘temporary’ manpower. And the final selection with government approval was issued only on July 18, 2024. That too became controversial which we would not deliberate here.
The more important issue now is of the pending full-fledged status. The university is yet to secure 12B recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC), a status critical for offering degrees recognised at the national level. The delay in 12B accreditation has restricted DMU’s access to funding for both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, disrupting academic schedules and exam timelines. This, in turn, has created uncertainty regarding students’ academic progress and future career opportunities. Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) on Tuesday called for urgent financial support to address the issues of Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) and emphasised the need for a permanent vice-chancellor and skilled staff to lead the university.
DMU has at present an enrolment of around 15,000 students. However, concerns remain regarding its ability to realise this potential without a qualified vice-chancellor to oversee essential restructuring. The UGC has urged DMU to address pressing issues in areas such as land, infrastructure, equipment, and manpower to meet the criteria for 12B accreditation. According to MIYC, the university continues to face significant infrastructure shortfalls, with faculty citing a shortage of classrooms, seating, and tables, all necessary to meet UGC guidelines. This is rather strange.
What is holding up the work orders and supply orders? From Day One, government authorities plunged headlong into the ‘physical infrastructure’ part on a mission mode while being oblivious to the ‘academic infrastructure’ part of appointing regular VC and academic professionals besides faculty members. Through funds provided by Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), contract works were awarded for construction of new buildings and physical infrastructure and construction activities went on full swing. During that period of time, academic activities were mostly neglected leading to frequent spells of strike by students and teachers. Still, the neglect of academic works is there.
