Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS) submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi drawing his attention to grievances being faced by the university
TFM Report
The National Sports University, which was established with a major objective of India taking part in more international games and winning gold medals, is being run without any regular staff. All the employees in NSU are being engaged on contract basis, while some recruits are on deputation.
The sorry state of affairs in the NSU came to light after Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS) submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi drawing his attention to grievances being faced by the university.
In the memorandum, AIMS alleged employees are appointed from within their own families by some individuals. Since no regular faculty or nonteaching staff members have been appointed, the university is left in the lurch, and thus adversely affecting students’ careers, it added.
It also said that RC Mishra, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was recruited as the NSU’s VC against UGC regulations. As per the advertisement annexure of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the VC should have and outstanding academic record throughout and a minimum of 10-year experience as professor in a university system or in equivalent position in reputed research and/or academic/ administrative organization and that he should be below 65 years of age as on the closing date of the receipt of application. According to this, Mishra does not possess the qualification and experience, it said.
Further AIMS alleged that Mishra worked mostly from New Delhi though his official residence is provided at Lamphel. In six months of joining, he stayed in Imphal for only one month. He last left for Delhi on February 18, 2020, it said.
It also claimed that neither the VC nor the Registrar of NSU have constituted the mandatory authorities of any university like the Court, the Executive Council, the Academic and Activity Council, Departmental Board of Sports Studies and School of Board of Studies, etc. As per UGC guidelines, University cannot function without these authorities, it added.
Three courses were offered simultaneously, Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports (BPES); Bachelor of Science in Sports Coaching; and =Sports Psychology. A course in sports nutrition was attempted to open, but the syllabus could not be completed. Interesting to note here is that out of four members of the syllabus committee, two do not have any appropriate background in the relevant concerns, AIMS said in the memorandum.
AIMS questioned how a university can function without establishing the appropriate authorities for the varied engagements of the institute starting from Curriculum Development, Syllabus Adoption, Teaching and Evaluation?
Maintaining that getting to the bottom of grievances can solve this problem, the memorandum signed by signed by Dr Atom Sunil Singh, Director AIMS, Professor Amar Yumnam former VC Manipur University and adviser AIMS, Yambem Laba, former chairperson (ic) MHRC and adviser AIMS, Dr S Manikanta adviser AIMS, M Khelendro president AIMS, N Ratan Meetei, Director AIMS and Mawung Mingthing, secretary AIMS sought appreciate any action from the Prime Minister to help the University resolve the issues and enable the institute to play the expected role in enhancing the dignity of the nation.