Two more medical colleges for Malda, Kalyani

Bhattacharjee said he wanted that every university of the state becomes a centre of excellence. Besides modern scientific and technical knowledge, universities should have in their curriculum subjects based on local resources and demand, as this would help in generating employment at the local level, Bhattacharjee said. “I request you to see to it that people belonging to the lower strata of society are able to educate themselves in the university,” Bhattacharjee said, addressing the authorities present on the dais.

With Gaurbanga, the state’s northern region now has two universities. The first one, North Bengal University, was set up in 1962 at Salinger in Darjeeling district.

Altogether 21 subjects, including food processing, sericulture, archaeology and anthropology will be taught in the university. Its campus will be set up on 30 acres, Vice-Chancellor Seraphim Bandyopadhyay said in her address.

Security had been tightened around the venue, after the recent blast that targeted Bhattacharjee’s convoy at Salboni in West Midnapore district.

An unclaimed car parked near the venue, however, caused a scare among residents as well as the police before the chief minister’s visit. It was removed from the spot but nothing suspicious was found in it after examination, the police said.