The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has urged the Department of Higher Education to enhance the Grant-in-Aid provided to private and theological colleges in Nagaland, stating that the existing financial assistance is inadequate to meet the growing demands of higher education.
In a representation addressed to the Ex-Officio Director of the Department of Higher Education, the Union acknowledged the government’s continued support to private and theological colleges through the Non-Development Budget. It noted that the state currently provides an annual Grant-in-Aid of ₹2.65 crore, which is distributed across different categories, with institutions receiving grants of ₹2 lakh, ₹1.5 lakh or ₹1 lakh.
However, ANCSU maintained that the present level of assistance has become insufficient in view of rising costs associated with academic administration, infrastructure maintenance, technological advancement and student support services.
The Union stated that private and theological colleges have played a crucial role in complementing the government’s efforts to expand access to higher education, particularly in areas where public institutions are limited. Despite operating with limited financial resources, these institutions have continued to provide quality education, generate employment and contribute significantly to the state’s human resource development, it added.
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“The current quantum of Grant-in-Aid, however, falls short of addressing their essential requirements and limits their capacity to strengthen academic and institutional development,” it said.
ANCSU appealed to the department to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing Grant-in-Aid structure and enhance financial assistance to institutions across all categories. It also urged the government to ensure that the entire budgetary allocation under the Non-Development Budget is fully and judiciously utilised so that the intended objective of supporting these institutions is effectively achieved.
According to the Union, enhanced financial assistance would enable colleges to improve academic infrastructure, strengthen laboratories and libraries, upgrade learning resources, adopt digital education and create a more conducive environment for quality higher education.
Stating that strengthening private and theological colleges is an investment in the future of Nagaland’s higher education sector, ANCSU requested the department to give favourable consideration to its representation and initiate the necessary administrative measures to revise the existing Grant-in-Aid allocation.
