Sohra Government College, Cherrapunjee

About Sohra Government College, Cherrapunjee

Aiming at fulfilling the long aspirations of the people and students community of Sohra Civil Sub-Division and its surrounding areas, Sohra College was established by the people themselves in 1982. In the first committee for the establishment of Sohra College held on 18.06.1982, members representing from different areas of the subdivision unanimously resolved to open the college with effect from the academic session of 1982-83.

Cherrapunjee or locally called ‘Sohra’, the wettest place on planet earth, has been the inspiration for the name. These undulating green carpeted hills were nostalgically called by the British as the “Scotland of the East”.

Prior to 1982, there was no college in the Sohra Civil Sub-Division which is an educationally backward area. Situated 52 KM from Shillong, the State Capital, Sohra Civil Sub-Division is a border area with Bangladesh. Since parents living in the area where from time to time deprived of the opportunity to get their sons and daughters admitted in colleges in Shillong due to financial constraints, an idea to set up a college at Sohra sprang up in the mind of the Teacher-Educators, youth and prominent citizens of the area.

Aiming at fulfilling the long aspirations of the people and students community of Sohra Civil Sub-Division and its surrounding areas, Sohra College was established by the people themselves in 1982. In the first committee for the establishment of Sohra College held on 18.06.1982, members representing from different areas of the subdivision unanimously resolved to open the college with effect from the academic session of 1982-83.

Sohra College started when it did not have anything of its own neither land nor building. Classes were conducted at Cherra Presbyterian High School with the permission from the managing committee of the school and also to utilize at least three classrooms in the evening hours from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM for a period of 1982-87. As per the decision of the Governing Body meeting held on 2-10-1987 to have a Day-Shift/Day section of the college, classes were conducted on a rented house at Rs.250/- month and the College accommodated there till shifted to Hostel of Government Normal Training School, Cherrapunjee on May, 1988. In 1989 the college was allotted a plot of land measuring 8330.7 Square Metre by the Executive Committee of the Dorbar of Sirdar Elaka Saitsohpen, Cherrapunjee. The construction of building was started during the winter of 1989 and completed till late 1990. Though classes in this campus started in 1991 yet construction for extension of the building so that there will be provision for staff common room, student common room, library reading room etc. were continued. It was after the provincialisation of the college on 19-01-2009 that the Government of Meghalaya considered this existing campus as temporary campus and correspondingly a plot of land measuring 15.56 acres was allotted by the Disaster and Revenue Department, Government of Meghalaya on 26-May-2015. From 2009 onwards the Government had stopped the extension and renovation of the college with the intension of shifting to the permanent campus 15.56 acres but till now no sign of construction. Therefore with the existing infrastructure the college face the problem of admitting students even from its own area.

Sohra Government College has a distinction of being the only degree college in the whole Sohra Civil Sub-Division which comprises of a population of more than 1.5 lakh. As such its location is of strategic important for the education of the youth in this region at degree level especially Science and Commerce streams.

Vision
It is expected that the College will be brought to the forefront of Higher Education in Meghalaya because of the aspirations, efficiency and leadership of the College Administration and the commitment, service and flexibility of teaching and non-teaching staff; support of the parents and the people of Sohra Civil Sub Division, Prayer of the employees, the financial support of the Government State and the hard works of the students.

Mission
Sohra Government College is committed to the cause of empowerment of rural youth boys and girls of this region who could not afford to move to other places for further studies in higher education, through access to higher education, enabling them to develop as intellectually alive, socially responsible citizens ever ready for continuous personal and professional growth, to inculcate social moral and spiritual values. Moreover, it is committed to provide possible range of professional and vocational courses besides conventional ones for rural students to meet the changing needs.