BHUBANESWAR: The Central government has sanctioned Rs 676.70 crore for infrastructural development of higher education institutions including universities and colleges in Odisha, state’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj has said.
Of the Rs. 676. 70, a sum of Rs 670 crore has been sanctioned for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) in Odisha and additional one percent amounting to Rs 6.7 crore has been sanctioned for the state under the Management Monitoring Evaluation and Research (MMER) grant.
Odisha will provide around 40% (Rs 268 crore) of the total grant while the Centre will provide Rs 408.7 crore, the Minister said.
PM-USHA scheme
The PM-USHA scheme has been categorised under four components —Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU), grants to strengthen accredited and unaccredited universities, and colleges, gender inclusion and equity initiatives (GIEI).
Funds provided under the PM-USHA scheme will be used for the improvement of classrooms, libraries, hostel, improving accessibility for differently-abled students, procurement of advanced laboratory equipment, etc., in the educational institutions.
To strengthen infrastructure, education and research facilities, four universities including Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, Berhampur University in Ganjam, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur University will get Rs 100 crore each under the MERU category.
The universities in the five districts– Vikram Deb Autonomous College (university) in Koraput, Rajendra University in Balangir and Kalahandi University, Odisha State Open University and Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur have been allotted Rs 20 crore each.
Similarly, the districts of Bhadrak, Kandhamal, Nabaranagpur, Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur will get Rs 10 crore each under the GIEI to encourage the participation of women and other underprivileged groups in higher education through self-defence training programme, organisation of workshops for skill enhancement for self-employment, etc.
As many as 24 colleges in different districts will be provided Rs 5 crore each under the grants to strengthen the colleges category.