Diphu Government College. A Telegraph picture

May 14: Collecting admission fees and keeping students’ records and their updated information will just be a click away for Diphu Government College when it finally goes hi-tech.

The college will be fitted with a sophisticated computer laboratory and an advanced software system for administrative and academic purpose, besides an online library before the next batch of students join the college. A source in the college said the laboratory with 50 computers would be functional within a month.

“Twelve computers will be shifted to the library from the computer laboratory. It will be equipped with VSAT and we plan to make it an online storehouse of books. The library has 45,000 books,” the source said.

Diphu Government College principal A.C. Bharali said the formalities to install an advanced software system with the help of a Bangalore-based firm began a month back. “It will be installed in 16 computers of the college administration very soon,” Bharali added.

Bharali said the new computer laboratory was being set up with the district administration’s Rashtriya Sama Vikas Yojana funds, whereas the money for the software and the online library was from the special autonomous district council fund.

Established in 1964 as the first higher education institution in the hill district headquarters, it was upgraded to a government college in 1967.

Over four decades later, the college has 15 departments and 87 teachers with 2,485 students of both the Higher Secondary and graduation level.

The college started a course in computers in 1993. Around 25 students had taken the last Higher Secondary examination with computers as a subject. The college offers a three-year diploma course in tourism, journalism and nursery teachers’ training.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) had awarded the college a B++ grade.

“We are grateful to deputy commissioner M. Angamuthu, as he has made the long cherished dream of a sophisticated laboratory come true,” said Ratan Ingti, a Higher Secondary student of the college.

“However, we are facing a lot of problems as a section of teachers does not want to come here to serve. At present, we are managing with 14 teachers on contract,” a college source said.