Latest news with #TripuraUniversity
News18
7 days ago
- General
- News18
Tripura steps up efforts to save Indias last ape species
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Agartala, Jul 25 (PTI) The Tripura government unveiled a detailed action plan aimed at protecting the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon — the only ape species found in India, in a major push for wildlife conservation. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the state's efforts to safeguard its fragile biodiversity and tackle the alarming decline in the gibbon population. Listed as 'endangered" on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Western Hoolock Gibbon enjoys the highest degree of legal protection. Yet, its numbers have continued to decline over the years, largely due to habitat loss, hunting, and human-wildlife conflicts. Tripura, an ecologically rich state in the northeast, harbours one of the country's last remaining gibbon populations. These agile, tree-dwelling primates are known for their spectacular aerial swings across forest canopies and hauntingly melodic calls that echo through the jungle. But once-flourishing forests have shrunk and fragmented, leaving fewer safe spaces for them to thrive. A survey in 2005 recorded 97 individual gibbons across three forest patches in Tripura. That number has since dipped to 79, divided among 32 groups, officials said. Nationally, the gibbon population stood at about 12,000 two decades ago, but conservationists fear it may now be significantly lower. Tripura University's professor Sabyasachi Dasgupta, who is actively involved in the project, said establishing protocols for long-term population monitoring and restoring degraded forest habitats are part of the action plan. Training forest staff and law enforcement in wildlife protection, conducting ecological and behavioural research and promoting community awareness and participation in conservation are also the goals of it, he said. The gibbons of the state mainly live in protected areas such as Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in South Tripura, and forests in Gomati and Khowai districts. However, conservationists caution that without proactive steps to prevent further forest degradation, gibbons may vanish from the wild. 'We are emphasising the need to maintain cultural integrity while protecting the gibbons," Dasgupta said. 'Traditional methods like shifting cultivation are deeply rooted, but they often disrupt forest continuity. We need strategies that reduce ecological harm while respecting cultural traditions. Canopy connectivity is crucial for gibbon movement and survival," he added. Divisional Forest Officer of Gomati H Vignesh said gibbons have been spotted in the Amarpur subdivision, though accurate population data is still being collected. Bimal Das, the assistant conservator at Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, confirmed that eight gibbons are currently thriving within its core zone. Grassroots conservation campaigns are also underway, with NGOs and academics engaging communities living near forest fringes. These programmes aim to reduce human-animal conflict, especially incidents involving crop damage and encroachment, while highlighting the ecological role of gibbons, officials said. As awareness grows and conservation efforts gain momentum, environmentalists believe Tripura has the potential to become a model for gibbon preservation across the region, and a beacon of hope for India's only ape. PTI JOY SOM view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 10:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
22-07-2025
- News18
Tripura University to introduce biometric attendance for staffers
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Agartala, Jul 22 (PTI) The Tripura University is set to introduce biometric attendance for a section of officers, teaching staff, except a few professors, and contractual employees in a phased manner to ensure discipline at the institute, officials said on Tuesday. Earlier, biometric attendance was implemented only for Group B and C staff of the central varsity. 'This is to notify that the Executive Council of Tripura University, in its 45th meeting held on June 1, 2025, has taken decision to start biometric attendance of all assistant professors, all associate professors, Group A officers, all contractual teachers, faculty, guest faculty members and other contractual staff", said Muneendra Mishra, the deputy registrar in a notification. Group A officers include registrar, deputy registrar, assistant registrar and librarians. The biometric attendance system will be implemented in a phased manner from July 31. 'All associate professors and statutory posts officers will be brought under the biometric attendance system from October 31, while the professors will be included later," it said. 'All concerned are requested to register their personal details, including mobile number and Aadhaar, on the portal by themselves or to contact the nodal officer, Tripura University, for onboarding", it reads. The biometric attendance for non-teaching staff (Group B&C) was introduced earlier, and now this will be done for teaching staff and other workforce, an official said. 'It will bring more discipline in the varsity", he said. PTI PS BDC view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 13:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tripura Univ moves up to 44 in IIRF '25, but remains NE's lowest-ranked central varsity
Agartala: Tripura University has improved its position in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025, ranking 44th in the list of 50 top central universities of the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The position of Tripura University was 47th last year and 28th in 2023. However, the rank of Tripura University was found lowest among the 10 central universities in the northeast this year too. Rajiv Gandhi University in Itanagar became best in the region securing 13th rank in IIRF this year, followed by Tezpur University (24th), Mizoram University (25th), Central Agricultural University (26th), Northeastern Hill University, Shillong (29th), Nagaland University (34th), Sikkim University (36th), Assam University (37th), and Manipur University (40th). The deterioration of Tripura University began with the appointment of incumbent vice-chancellor Prof Ganga Prasad Prasain in Aug 2020. He has been accused of large-scale corruption in the appointment of faculty and non-teaching staff, including his son as an assistant engineer. Allegedly, the academic ambiance in the university has gone down, rather, it has become a hub of political activities of saffron outfits. The ministry of education has been flooded with complaints against the vice-chancellor that reportedly affected the IIRF ranking. According to IIRF data, Tripura University achieved an overall index score of 901, an increase from 897.86 in 2024, but a fall from 929.99 in 2023.
United News of India
03-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Cong demands inquiry against Tripura University VC and Registrar on recruitment scam
Agartala, June 3 (UNI) Former BJP Minister and incumbent Congress legislator Sudip Roybarman on Tuesday wrote to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan seeking suspension and a high-level inquiry against officiating Vice Chancellor of Tripura University Prof G P Prasain and Registrar Dr Deepak Sharma for an alleged scam in recruitment and high-value purchase. He also requested Governor of Tripura Indra Sena Reddy Nallu and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha to take up the issue with the central government, as VC and Registrar have been working against the interest of the state. As per law, the executive power of the VC had already been withdrawn three months ago, and the new VC recruitment is in process, but he called interviews for various faculty positions in the Department of Law, Sociology, and Sanskrit department on June 8-9, violating rules, the letter alleged. 'They have flooded Tripura University with underqualified and ineligible outsiders, depriving genuine candidates of Tripura. Most shamefully, VC has recruited his son as an engineer at the university, depriving all bright and brilliant locals. Only 4-5 local students were selected despite fulfilling all norms of eligibility, while more than 30 were given jobs from outside states,' Roybarman mentioned in the letter. It further alleged that VC and Registrar are distributing teaching jobs to outsiders, and pleaded that all the outsiders are recommended for a job in Tripura by RSS and BJP's top bosses. He questions, 'Even if we bluntly disbelieve their claims, where is the action from the Ministry of Education, PMO, Governor of Tripura, and the Chief Minister?' While restraining VC from his illegal act of recruitment, suspend him, along with the Registrar, and also constitute a High Level Inquiry Committee with independent authority to ascertain the irregularities and anomalies in the recruitment process in the last year, Roybarman demanded. UNI BB ARN
