NE to get Mining course in education syllabus from next session

Guwahati, Oct 12 (UNI) The first course in mining in the entire Northeast will be introduced in Assam's Dibrugarh University (DU) from next academic session, fulfilling a long - standing demand of the region, which is a treasure hub of mining-based industries.

Informing this at a press conference here today, All Assam Students' Union (AASU) advisor Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya said the course would be financed by Coal India Limited, as per the persistent demand of the AASU for a course in the mining sector.

To be introduced as a three-year diploma and two-year certificate course initially in Margherita College in Tinsukia, affiliated to the DU, the AASU plans to convert it into a degree level course with cooperation of Coal India.

The mining sector is an important employment sector for the youths of the region as the entire Northereast has abundant of natural resources, including limestone and coal.

As per data provided by AASU, the entire Northeast has coal reserve of 945.03 million tonnes. Of these, the highest reserve is in Meghalaya with 459.43 million tonnes, followed by Assam with 375.43 million tonnes, Arunachal Pradesh with 90.23 million tonnes and Nagaland with 19.94 million tonnes.

AASU Information Secretary Pulok Gohain pointed out that local employment in the technical sections of the mining-based industries was negligible due to the absence of qualified local youth. Mining courses are offered in institutions in various parts of the country, but there was no such provision in the Northeast.

Recently Coal India Ltd had advertised for 47 posts, but ''only two youths from Assam are eligible to apply as others don't meet the educational criterion,'' Mr Gohain added.

UNI