Bhubaneswar: Union Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has requested Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to implement Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme in Odisha
In the letter to the CM, the Union Minister mentioned about importance of the centrally-sponsored scheme for improving higher education in the state. “The PM-USHA Scheme is an important step of central government towards implementation the vision of National Education Policy, 2020 to attain higher levels of access, equity, and excellence in the States/UTs higher education system by prioritising the unserved and undeserved areas, to be identified by States/UTs as Focus Districts on the basis of low GER, population of SC / ST, Left-wing affected areas etc. PM-USHA will aim at creating new institutions and also transforming existing institutions in the States and UTs,” he wrote.
The states and union territories are required to sign an MoU for on-boarding the scheme for its implementation.
The Union Minister further said that Odisha had actively participated in the previous phases of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and was successful in using the support under the scheme to improve higher education scenario in the state. “However, an MoU under new phase of Scheme i.e. PM-USHA, is yet to be signed by Odisha. I would like to inform you that the process of submission of proposals for grants-in-aid under the PM-USHA Scheme has already started through dedicated portal for this purpose launched on October 21, 2023,” he said.
Seeking cooperation and continued support of CM Patnaik in implementing the PM-USHA scheme in Odisha, Dharmendra requested him for his personal intervention to ensure submission of the signed MoU as per the format given in the guidelines at the earliest.
The centrally-sponsored scheme has been approved till March 31, 2026, with a total outlay of Rs 12926.10 crore in continuation of the RUSA scheme.