The Sikkim Progr­essive Youth Forum on Friday threatened to take to the str­eets if the state government fai­led to introduce mo­re undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the Sikk­im State University (SSU) from the current academic session.

The state varsity, which s­t­arted operation in 2018, has only two departments: Nepali and Sanskrit. The SPYF has been spearheading the campa­ign for introduction of more courses in the university, but despite receiving assurances in the past, their demand is yet to be met. “We have raised the demand for introducing more subjects on numerous occasions. Now, we will be left with no other choice than to take to the streets if the government fails to introduce more subjects from this academic session,” said Sankar Sharma, a member of the SPYF.

The SPYF said the need for introducing more courses had become all the more urgent because of Covid-19 pandemic that had severely impacted the education sector throughout the country, forcing students from Sikkim studying outside to return home.

“Many students from Si­kkim study in universities and colleges in other parts of the country because of lack of opportunities here. All of them ha­ve been forced to return home because of the pandemic and are staring at an uncertain future. The SSU should be adequately equipped to acco­mmodate most of them and other st­u­­dents from the state,” said Ru­pen Karki, another SPYF member.

The university was set up by the previous Sikkim Democratic Front government with Nepali and Sanskrit departments and operates from the Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College at Tadong here in the absence of the campus of its own. The combined stren­gth of students in the two departments is a mere 46.

Earlier this year, the university students had resorted to protest on their demands, including introducing more courses, granting of full autonomy to the varsity, appointments of permanent teachers and staff and setting up of a permanent campus.

Sources in the state education department said the government was very keen on ru­nning the varsity in full steam, but it could not possibly happen in a jiffy. “It takes time for institutions to take root. We had plans to introdu­ce new departments last year, but couldn’t do so because of fund constraints. We have received some funds for the construction of a permanent campus and are looking for suitable land. Things are moving in the right direction,” said a source.