IIM enabling northeast students realize dreams with quality education

Shillong, Nov.19 (ANI): For long Shillong has been known for its captivating environs and music culture. But the State capital is also gaining reputation as an education centre.

Local residents believe Shillong is all set to become a Mecca of learning for students from the north-east region of the country with the opening of the first branch of the premier Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

The first batch of IIM here started in July 2008 here. The Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM) in Shillong is the seventh branch of IIM.

Spread over an area of 120 acres, IIM's newly set up branch is located in the heart of the city.

With RGIIM, using the latest available technology to produce the best 'managerial gurus' of India, it is also considered the most tech-savvy institute in the nation. Prof. Ashok K.Dutta, Director of IIM Shillong says: "This institute will help fulfill the aspiration of the northeastern region, the people from this area and it will provide an impetus not only for management education but also from growth of industries in this part of the country." Making a special effort to develop the managerial skills among the youngsters of the region, along with exploring the new ventures in the region, RGIIM has offered eight different regular and short-term courses in post graduation managerial studies.

The institute will provide accommodation and recreational facilities to 64 students enrolled in its regular courses.

The institute is offering short-term course to 30 local students at a minimal fee of Rs. 6,000 for six-month duration course.

Shivam Kataria, another student of RGIIM, said: "Till date it's been a pleasant journey in IIM Shillong. We had a lot of speculation before coming to Shillong that it is going to be the first institute. People are apprehensive how it is going to be, how the environment is going to be, whether we will be able to adjust, what kind of faculty will be there. But trust me, it's being a wonderful experience and it's like a dream come true for a person like me."

Rashi Agarwal, a student of RGIIM, said: "USP of IIM Shillong is sustainability. Even if the current situation of economic meltdown continues, then also it (RGIIM) will help a lot. I'm sure that managers from Indian Institute of Management Shillong are going to be different from those of others as in they'll be able to cope with the world."

Located in Shillong are the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and premier medical institute, Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences.

The reason behind such institutes coming up in Meghalaya is largely due to the pleasant in the State.

Other north-eastern States like Manipur and Nagaland have missed out all this because of activities of militant groups. By D. Henpilen (ANI)