The long-pending demand for a university in Haryana’s Nuh district, mostly populated by Meo Muslims, has again gathered momentum with renewed demonstrations across the region in its support over the past one month. The demonstrations are being held under the aegis of Hamara Adhikar Morcha (HAM), a social organisation, with overwhelming support from the locals and several other outfits.
Decades of promises
“The demand for a university in Nuh (earlier Mewat), the most backward region of Haryana, is not new. It was first made by late Chaudhary Rahim Khan, a Member of Parliament, in 1983. But for the past three decades, the locals have only got assurances from the political parties.
“Several organisations raised the demand and held demonstrations in support of a university over these years, but these were mostly held around elections or before the budget. We have now decided to take this demand for a university to every nook and corner of the district and the neigbouring areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh falling under the Mewat region,” said HAM convenor Mohammad Younus Alvi, who is spearheading the campaign.
Mr. Alvi, a former district councillor, said the campaign seeking a university was kicked-off at Imrana village and demonstrations will be held at village and block levels before a large demonstration at the district level and a signature campaign.
High drop-out rate
“Nuh has a high drop-out rate and low literacy. The main occupation of the locals is agriculture and they often cannot afford to send their children outside for higher education. But a university in the district can help fulfil the dreams of thousands of poor students for higher education. A section of the population also does not prefer to send their girl children outside for education. It has led to very high drop-out rate among the girls seeking higher education,” said Mr. Alvi.
He added that the Minority Affairs Ministry had plans to set up a few universities across the country and the demonstrations were being held to attract its attention towards their long-pending demand.
The locals argued that setting up a university would benefit over 60 lakh people in Mewat spread across Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
“The children of our relatives in neighbouring States can come to the university for higher studies and stay with us, saving hostel expenses,” said Hafiz Ali.
Cadre of teachers
Former Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed said the Congress government had created a special cadre of teachers for Mewat, opened several government schools, colleges, Industrial Training Institutes and even a medical college to strengthen education system in Nuh.
“We also had approved in-principle setting up of Regional Study Centre of Maharishi Dayanand University as a step towards opening a university, but the elections were declared and the new government put it on the back burner,” claimed Mr. Ahmed.
Union Minister of State for Planning and local MP Rao Inderjit Singh's spokesperson said the Minister had raised the demand for a university in Nuh at several platforms, both during Congress and BJP governments.
“We also raised the matter with the Minority Affairs Ministry. Nuh now figures among 115 backward districts identified by Niti Aayog to provide better education and basic amenities. We hope the demand for a university in the district will now be met soon,” said the spokesperson.
