EDUCATION

Giving Rewari a chance in technical education 
Our Correspondent

Rewari, July 5
Somany Institute of Technology and Management (SITM), which is the first Engineering college in the Rewari region, has successfully completed one year. The institute, popularly known here as Somany Engineering College, was inaugurated in 2001 on a 25-acre land on the Rewari-Garhi Bolni Road, 3 km from here.

The institute is run by the R.D. Somani Shikshan Sansthan and is the brainchild of Mr Ashok Somany, a leading slate-stone businessman of Haryana and his younger brother Dr Vijay Somany.

They have endeavoured to turn into reality the dream of their father, the late Mr R.D. Somany, a freedom fighter and an educationist of the Rewari region.

Dr Vijay Somani is the chairman of the R.D.Somany Sikshan Sansthan while Dr M. L.Ranga, the Health Minister of Haryana and the former Vice-Chancellor of K.U., Mr Sultan Singh are its members.

Prominent people associated with the R.D.Somany Sikshan Sansthan include the former Governor of Pondichery, Justice Ashutosh Mohanta, Dr H.L.Verma, Pro-Vice Chancellor of G.J.University, Hisar and Mr Vipin Kumar, IG (Security) in the Prime Minister’s Office.

SIMT is approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Delhi and Government of Haryana and is affiliated to the M.D.University, Rohtak.

It has well-developed infrastructure including well-equipped computer center, semi-conductor devices lab, circuit theory lab, mechanical and electrical workshop and a rich library.

Moreover, the institute has popular areas of studies like Computer Science Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Information Technology and Mechanical Engineering.

Besides, SIMT also provides hostel facilities for both boys and girls, apart from having a playground, recreation centre, health centre, auditorium and a canteen on its campus.

Mr I.D.Bansal, the director of the institute told NCR Tribune that the institute was inaugurated in August 2001 with a modest strength of 146 students (128 boys and 18 girls) from eight different states in the three disciplines of Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering and Information Technology.

He said it was a matter of great pride that even with many difficulties, the performance of the institute has been commendable in academics, sports and extra-curricular activities mainly due to the efforts put in by the staff and the students.

He said that in the coming session, 60 students in Mechanical Engineering would also be added to the existing strength in the three disciplines.

He said that correspondence regarding the introduction of M.B.A., M.C.A. and M.Sc. (Computer Science) courses under distance education mode with the M.D.U. Rohtak, was in the final phase.

Mr Bansal hoped that the number of students in various disciplines would be increased to 400 in the coming session. Simultaneously, he aims to increase the strength of the teaching staff from 14 to 30.

However, only the coming years would tell whether the institute would be able to keep its tryst with destiny.

CAMPUS SCENE
DU scraps sports quota in most PG courses
Our Correspondent

New Delhi, July 5
Resentment among the sports community of Delhi University is on the rise as the Vice-Chancellor has more or less scrapped the sports quota at the postgraduate level, including in all the major subjects such as Economics and Philosophy, leaving only the least-preferred subjects such as Sanskrit and Hindi open for the talented sportspersons.

According to well-placed sources, in the meeting with Mr G. S. Naruka, Director, Sports Council, Delhi University, a couple of days back, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deepak Nayyar, came to the conclusion that the sports quota would not be available, except to those candidates who wanted to pursue Hindi or Sanskrit at the Masters level.

All the sportsmen who want to apply to the prestigious Delhi University, will now have to appear for the entrance test, unless they are interested in pursuing Sanskrit or Hindi at the postgraduate level.

As Mr Naruka is out of India, the Deputy Director, Sports Council, Delhi University, Dr Sudershan Pathak, said that sports might now take a back seat in the university.

“It is nothing new. We have been fighting for such a thing for so long. Till five years back, there was five per cent quota for the candidates applying for the Masters. From the last two years or so, it has been more or less removed. Now all the candidates have to clear the entrance admission test, irrespective of being a sportsman or a candidate under the general category. This might reduce the influx of talented sportsmen,” she said.

The sports teachers in various colleges of Delhi University are also concerned over this decision. “Four years back, the DU authorities had made admission on the basis of entrance test, thus scrapping the sports quota, only for Economics. This was to show their supremacy. Then gradually, it has been extended to other subjects: English, then Philosophy, and now to appease all the colleges, they have kept the sports quota open only for Hindi and Sanskrit candidates at the postgraduate level. This is ridiculous. No one is going to enroll for such courses. The authorities should just remove that also. Why this eyewash?” asked Rajkumar Clement, Department of Physical Education, St Stephen’s College.

“Who possibly would enroll in Delhi University for Hindi or Sanskrit for at the postgraduate level. I think it’s a deliberate move to discourage all the aspiring sportsmen. Delhi University has produced the maximum number of sportsmen and such a move can have negative repercussions,” said S. K. Chakravarthy, Department of Physical Education, St Stephen’s College.