Aspirational districts to get 70 model degree colleges : Javadekar

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on March 22, 2018, said that the Cabinet approval for continuation of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSS) with a substantially increased outlay is a major initiative of the government to enhance quality of education.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the HRD Minister said that the cabinet has approved fourfold increase in outlay under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan. Giving  details, Javadekar said that it was about Rs 600 crore per year totalling to Rs 2,400 crore for 4 years from 2013-14 to 2016-17. Now it is Rs 7,100 crores for 3 years beginning 2017-18 to 2019-20. The HRD Minister added that 10 Central/State universities with a rating of more than 3.5 under the Graded Autonomy Scheme will get Rs 100 crore each. Not only that, 20 states will get Rs 50 crore each totalling to Rs 1,000 crore to create research clusters in the state.

The HRD Minister said that it is a huge gift for quality enhancement of education sector. It will enhance quality of overall education by creating research labs, academic blocks & curriculum, girls hostels, improving research initiatives, faculty improvement and innovation in teaching. All these quality initiatives will be mapped and grants will be released. This is a step towards transforming education, Javadekar said, according to a PIB release.

The Minister also informed that in aspirational districts, which have lagged behind in education, the government is granting 70 new model degree colleges with an allocation of Rs 12 crore each totalling to Rs 840 crore. For transformation of education, the government will also give Rs 4 crore each to 75 degree colleges for upgrading them to model degree colleges.

Javadekar said that 8 new professional colleges are to be established in educationally backward (aspirational districts) states like UP, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh with a grant Rs 26 crore each totalling to Rs 208 crore while 750 colleges will get Rs 2 crore each totalling to Rs 1,500 crore for upgradation of academic infrastructures like research labs, library etc. He added that in a unique equity initiative to set up hostels for SC/ST girl students, 15 states will get Rs 5 crore each.

RUSA is an overarching scheme operated in a mission mode for funding the state universities and colleges to achieve the aims of equity, access and excellence.