Kalimpong, Sept. 24: The Agam Singh Giri Degree College Foundation Committee has decided to set up a college at Gorubathan, Kalimpong block III, around 70 km from here.

The committee, which is trying to arrange for funds needed for the purpose, recently submitted a memorandum to DGHC chairman Subash Ghisingh for support. There are around 19 schools in Gorubathan?16 junior schools and three high schools.

?We need a college immediately in Gorubathan as students who pass the higher secondary board exams (from these schools) face a lot of difficulties. They have to take admission to colleges in Kalimpong, Malbazar and Siliguri. But here again, local students get the first priority,? said Rudra Karki, the assistant secretary of the foundation committee.

Not only this, Karki said admission to these colleges proves expensive for parents as their wards have to stay away from home. Besides, the institution at Malbazar does not offer Nepali as a subject.

According to Karki, the college will not only benefit the students of Gorubathan, but also residents of the Dooars area? a half hour drive from Gorubathan.

?We already have a plot land for setting up the college. Funds are now being collected through donations. However, we need the DGHC to raise the issue before the government,? said Karki. Members of the foundation committee who went to Lalkhoti to meet Ghisingh left the memorandum there after they failed to meet him.

The assistant secretary of the committee, however, said the college would start with the Arts stream first. ?We can introduce other streams like science and commerce later,? said Karki.

In the past, members of the committee had met the state higher education minister in Calcutta and the registrar of North Bengal University urging them to open a college in Gorubathan.