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Institute of Farm Management craving Govt attention
>From Kishore Talukdar
RANI, Oct 24 The days are seemingly numbered for the Rani-based Institute of
Farm Management, 30 km from Guwahati, with the regular functions of the
uncared-for Institute believed to be a recipe for the burgeoning unemployment
problem- coming to a virtual halt owing to the lackadaisical attitude on the
part of the government. Set up in 1980 with the aim of imparting modern
technology-based practical training on composite farming to rural unemployed
youth, the Institute was reportedly on the right track for the first 15 years.
But no sooner did the Institute successfully complete the training of 24
batches, each of which reportedly consisted of 32 to 35 trainees from various
parts of the state than the downfall began following the reportedly acute fund
crisis. Here it merits mention that reportedly first of its kind in the
country, the Institute encompassing 184 bigha land, has the making of becoming
a full-fledged Institute with the already existing units like dairy, piggery,
poultry, duckery, goatery, fishery, horticulture including fodder farm. But far
from using the huge potential to the desired level, the authorities stopped
paying heed, inflicting a mortal blow on the unemployed section.
What is disheartening to note is that due to the sheer apathy of the
authorities concerned, all the units have remained unused. Worse still, the
handing over of a plot of 50 bighas to the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research Centre had dealt a big blow to the Institute. The ideal Institute
could play a great role in uplifting the rural economy if state-of-the-art
infrastructure is provided, Dr Atul Senapati, former Director, In-charge,
Institute of Farm Management, Rani revealed to The Assam Tribune. Dr Senapati
was emphatic on the participatory role of the locale populace for the
realization of symbiotic benefit. Meanwhile, Dr Senapati informed that a
project was submitted for the all-round development of the Institute.
The rot sets in following the non-existence of a well-defined fencing and the
ramshackle state of the staff quarters. The hostels need to be renovated to
give a shot in the arm to the Institute. The yet-to-be- handed over auditorium
has turned into a white elephant.
The World Bank-funded 3 month-long training Gopal Mitra on artificial
insemination was reportedly going on from 2006 and four batches, comprising 25
to 30 educated unemployed youth from the interior areas of the state have
already completed the training, but the Government was apparently oblivious to
its pledge to work for the economic well-being of rural areas as regular
training activities have come to a standstill. A new lease of life to the dying
Institute is a matter to be reckoned with, considering the appalling rise of
unemployment problem.
(The Assam Tribune,25.10.2007)
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