So Orissa could get 18 colleges (in 18 districts) and 11 polytechnics. Each of these colleges would be supported by GOI by upto Rs. 2.5 Crore or one-third cost with the balance being met by the State Government or Private participation.
373 districts having GER lower than the national average identified by the UGC.
Out of 373 districts, 11 districts have lower than 3% GER, 79 districts have GER between 3.1 to 6% and 143 districts have GER between 6.1 to 9%
140 districts have a GER above 9% but below the national average.
91 districts proposed to be covered on priority as they have less than 4 colleges per 1 lakh of student population.
The above 373 districts also have 88 districts having a high minority concentration.
Upto Rs. 2.5 Crore or one-third cost is proposed as Central contribution with the balance being met by the State Government or Private participation.
Non – central Government share could include share of the state govt. as well as private not – for – profit contribution.
HRM has written to the concerned State Governments to identify location and their willingness to arrange for the balance of capital cost (non-recurring), to provide land free of cost and to meet the running and maintenance expenditure on these colleges.
Helping states expand higher education opportunities 1
A new scheme for incentivising State Govts for expansion and starting of new institutions of Higher Education proposed.
Under this Centrally Sponsored Scheme, GOI will give one third of the capital cost of establishing new institutions or expansion by the State Govts.
Rs. 7000 crore provided in XI Plan for this scheme.
Helping states expand higher education opportunities 2
UGC coverage of over 8000 degree colleges and over 170 Universities, which are not receiving UGC grant at present.
50% sharing basis – to be strengthened to get eligibility for 12B recognition under UGC Act.
Scheme of construction of Women hostels in Colleges/ Universities with 100% UGC grant is being given impetus.
New IITs
States to propose 2/3 alternative locations of 500 to 600 acres of land free of cost with good air, rail and road connectivity.
Also to offer accommodation on temporary basis for starting the courses.
Also proposed to make the existing IITs act as mentor institutions for new IITs.
It is proposed that the Director of the Mentor IIT, will act as Director of the new IIT for 3 years, with a separate campus Director / or Associate Director.
Efforts will be made to have common Chairman and many common members in the BoGs of the Mentor IIT and the new IIT.
New IIITs
4 IIITs (Indian Institute of Information Technology) at present at Allahabad, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Kanchipuram.
XI Plan envisages 20 new IIITs – as far as possible in the PPP mode.
A model DPR being proposed by NASSCOM, is expected to be available by end of April 2008.
Proposed model
Centre, State and Industry to contribute Rs. 15 Cr. each
Remaining capital cost [about Rs. 80 Cr. ] – to be either given as interest free Government loan on ITI pattern
or otherwise interest subsidy to be given for the loans as may be taken.
Recurring expenses to be met out of fees and internal accruals.
Some of the new IIITs proposed to be set up in Govt. Sector in States where PPP mode does not work out.
Polytechnics
Ratio of Diploma to Degree level seats in India – roughly 1:2, while it should be 3:1 or even higher.
Unlike Engineering Colleges, only about 15 to 20% of Polytechnics in Private Sector.
XI Plan envisages establishment of one Polytechnic in each of the 200 Districts not having one at present.
Ministry has proposed at least 1000 Polytechnics in XI Plan: 300 in Govt. Sector; 300 in PPP; 400 in Private Sector
Existing Govt. Polytechnics will be strengthened.
Support will be given for construction of Women’s Hostels in Polytechnics.
Introduction of Diploma Courses in the existing Engineering Institutions as well as running of 2nd shifts in existing polytechnics to augment intake capacity.
Internet Connectivity
Network each department of 398 university level institutions and each of 18000 colleges through broadband connectivity.
100 premier institutions working as Knowledge hubs to be connected with 1 Gbps bandwidth.
Make available high quality e-text books, e-reference books, e-research papers and e-content in different languages from KG to PG, free of cost to genuine learners.
State Governments to share 30% of the cost of providing broadband connectivity.
Chairman and Managing Director of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) Shriram Upadhyay seems more concerned for educational and social development of Orissa than his counterpart in National Aluminium Company (Nalco) Chitta Ranjan Pradhan.
Upadhyay is eager to provide fund for establishment of a medical college at Talcher. Pradhan, though an Oriya, on the other hand, has till date not shown any interest in investing in human resource development of the State in a big way.
Interestingly, Nalco’s medical bill per annum is around Rs14 crore, and if this Navratna public sector undertaking (PSU) takes a bold step, it could save the huge medical expenses for its employees by investing in setting up of a medical college and hospital.
Lack of interest at the top management level of Nalco to fund in social sector of the State has irked the leading non-resident Oriyas (NROs) and educationists. While major private investors have been providing funds for development of the educational sector, PSU Nalco’s shyness to develop Orissa as an educational hub has resulted in a sorry state of affairs, lamented Professor Chitta Baral, who teaches at the Arizona State University.
Prof Baral has asked the Nalco chief to fund a medical college at Damanjodi (Koraput), an engineering college at Angul and a topnotch management institute in Bhubaneswar. He said that this is high time the Nalco authorities were forced to invest in the social sector in a big way.
Owing to political pressure, Nalco is funding few projects in Koraput and Anugul, alleged an educationist. He said that Nalco must take cue from MCL and Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in taking initiative for investment in the social sector. CCL, it may be pointed out, is funding an engineering college in Jharkhand, its area of operation. Similarly, the Bokaro Steel Plant is also funding a medical college in Jharkhand.
… As Nalco has applied for another bauxite mines in Orissa, it is high time the State Government pressurised the PSU to fund liberally in the educational sector of the State, he said.
Following is Sambada’s tongue-in-cheek take in its Sunday magazine article on City Politics.
Provision of admission to the Puri DAV School by Anil Agarwal Foundation’s Vedanta University project for the children of displaced families has drawn an enthusiastic response from the villagers. As per the arrangement, 500 children from the land losing and displaced families will be admitted to the school.
By May 10, as many as 618 applications were received from children of the target families for admission in the DAV School. The children will get free education and the Foundation will provide uniforms, transport facilities, books and also mid-day snacks.
Despite discouragement and threats from vested interests opposed to the university project, the villagers and their children are very enthusiastic about the whole arrangement as they are serious about good education and a better future. After selection and admission, the classes are scheduled to start from July 1, according to a company release.
Following are excerpts from a report in the Statesman.
As a part of its CSR mission to facilitate quality school education for the upcoming generation of the project affected families, Anil Agarwal Foundation has partnered with the DAV School, Puri.
During the entrance tests, children came accompanied by parents and fellow villagers who were very keen for the admission of their wards, claimed a release issued by the foundation while noting that this was despite threats from vested interests who are opposed to the University project.
The CSR activities of Vedanta group of industries run by Mr Anil Agarwal focuses on health, education, livelihood and peripheral development, noted the release.
The educational initiative, in partnership with the DAV School, is expected to allay the fear of the local community that the world class University will be of no benefit to them. The students inducted to the DAV School now, will , in future find their rightful place in the Vedanta University.