More to kitty: Jamia’s Centre for North-East Studies gets Rs 14-cr grant

The Centre for North East Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), has received a grant of Rs 14 crore from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday.

The fund has given to the university for constructing a building to house the centre and to meet staff appointments and recurring expenses.

JMI Vice-Chancellor Najeeb Jung said: "The fund is a recognition of our commitment to one of the least studied regions of the country, to help build bridges and for a better, nuanced understanding. In the process, the deeper problems which are hidden by the headlines, would be addressed."

The centre was developed by Sanjoy Hazarika, who also holds the Dr Saifuddin Kitchelew Chair.

He said the funds will be used for creating a North-East House with conference rooms, classrooms, hold cultural programmes, build a major research and documentation space and offices.

"The grant will help in formalising the centre that he started in a very small way three years ago. This is a great encouragement and our vision is to create a dedicated space for all eight North-eastern states, support scholars and to take up issues of concern to the region and its people," Hazarika said.

"We look forward to collaborating with institutions and scholars from the region and abroad for critical examination of problems with a sharper focus. Policymakers would benefit from such rigorous research, which would be informed by field work and realities," he said.

Jamia said it was the only central university to have a centre of this kind.

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