Itanagar, Apr 20: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) has resolved to voluntarily adopt Jawaharlal Nehru College (JNC) Pasighat — the state's oldest institution of higher learning — as a Model Institute of Higher Learning and has sought the intervention of the State Government to facilitate the process.
In a formal representation submitted to Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona on Monday, AAPSU president Meje Taku and general secretary Mato Bui urged the government to issue necessary directives to the concerned authorities to expedite completion of all official formalities related to the proposed adoption.
The decision was taken unanimously during a Central Executive Council meeting of AAPSU held at the NEFA Club in Itanagar on April 19.
In the representation, AAPSU acknowledged the efforts made by successive state governments in developing JNC, while also highlighting persistent challenges faced by the institution. These include gaps in infrastructure, shortage of faculty, limited hostel accommodation, and inadequate fooding facilities, which continue to affect a large number of students.
The apex student body appealed to the Minister to direct the Education Commissioner, Secretary, and Director of Higher and Technical Education to take necessary steps for early implementation of the proposal.
Established on July 3, 1964, with just 42 students and eight faculty members—initially operating from Assam Rifles barracks, JNC Pasighat was the first and only institution of higher education in Arunachal Pradesh until 1978. Today, the college caters to approximately 4,000 to 5,000 students annually and remains a premier institution in the state.
The AAPSU president underscored the historic association between the union and the college, noting that JNC played a crucial role in nurturing the intellectual foundation of the student body during its formative years. He said, this enduring connection serves as both the moral basis and inspiration behind the decision to adopt the institution as a model centre of higher learning.