December 31st 2024.
In an exciting development, the Union government has recently announced an investment of Rs 676.70 crore for the enhancement of infrastructure in various universities and colleges in Odisha. This news was shared by the state's Higher Education Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, during a media briefing in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Suraj revealed that out of the total amount, Rs 268 crore will be contributed by the state government while the remaining Rs 408.70 crore will be provided by the Centre. The funds have been allocated under different components of the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, including Multi Disciplinary Education and Research Universities, Grants to Strengthen Universities, Grants to Strengthen Colleges, Gender Inclusion and Equity Initiatives, and Management Monitoring Evaluation and Research.
The Minister further shared that each of the following universities - Berhampur University, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, and Sambalpur University - will receive a grant of Rs 100 crore under the MERU component. Additionally, under the GSU component, five universities - Vikram Dev University, Jeypore, Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur, Kalahandi University, Bhawanipatna, Rajendra University, Bolangir, and Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur - will receive a grant of Rs 20 crore each for the development of infrastructure.
The government has also allocated Rs 5 crore each for 24 colleges under the GSC component, with an additional Rs 10 crore being provided to five districts - Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Nabarangpur, and Sambalpur - for the implementation of gender inclusion and equity initiatives.
Emphasizing on the importance of the PM-USHA scheme, Suraj stated that the funds will be utilized for the development of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and hostels, with a focus on making the infrastructure accessible to persons with disabilities. He also highlighted that higher educational institutions can now invest in software and hardware to enhance digital education.
In an effort to attract more women students, the central scheme also includes provisions for the provision of skill development, career building, and self-defence training under the gender inclusion and equity initiative component. Suraj expressed hope that the implementation of this scheme will improve the NAAC ranking of higher educational institutions in the coming years.
The Minister also mentioned the government's plans to implement the National Education Policy 2020, which aims to transform educational institutions into multi-disciplinary hubs and prepare students for global standards.
On the other hand, Geetanjali Dash, the Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University, expressed her delight at the approval of this much-needed project by the central government. She believes that the funds will significantly contribute to the overall development of the university and help improve its research output, thereby elevating its status as a leading institution. The allocated funds will be utilized over the next five years.
Local MP Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy also shared his gratitude towards Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for approving the release of funds for Berhampur University. He described the MERU component as a valuable gift from the central government and hoped that the university will utilize the funds to achieve its research, ranking, and infrastructure goals and emerge as a competitive institution on the global level.
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