UGC should grant recognition to Sonam Wangchuk’s HIAL, says Parliamentary panel
Guwahati: A Parliamentary Standing Committee has strongly endorsed the work of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), describing its contribution to education and community development as outstanding and urging the University Grants Commission (UGC) to grant the institute formal recognition without further delay.
In a report presented in Parliament earlier this week, the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Youth and Sports, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, flagged serious concern over the prolonged pendency of HIAL’s recognition.
The panel observed that despite operating for several years, the institute continues to function without UGC approval.
Drawing from its recent study tour to Ladakh, the committee said it found HIAL’s academic and institutional ecosystem particularly impressive.
Members noted that the institute has successfully blended education, research, and entrepreneurship through an experiential learning model grounded in Ladakh’s socio-cultural and ecological realities.
The report highlighted HIAL’s emphasis on hands-on learning, community participation, and locally relevant innovation as a benchmark for alternative education.
The panel further pointed out that HIAL aligns closely with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, especially in areas such as project-based learning, community engagement, and the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems.
According to the committee, the institute has generated significant local impact and earned international recognition through initiatives such as ice stupa construction and other community-driven programmes.
In light of these findings, the committee recommended that the UGC move towards granting recognition to HIAL. It also advised the Ministry of Education and the UGC to undertake a detailed study of the institute’s framework and explore ways to replicate its model across the country, including through Centres of Innovation in Education or similar mechanisms.
The committee’s observations come against the backdrop of recent controversies surrounding HIAL’s founder, Sonam Wangchuk. Authorities detained Wangchuk under the National Security Act on September 26, following violent protests in Ladakh over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status that resulted in four deaths and injuries to around 90 people. The administration accused him of instigating the unrest.
Subsequently, the Ladakh administration withdrew the land allotment granted to HIAL, while the Union Home Ministry cancelled the institute’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act registration, citing alleged violations.