By Abhishek SonkarNew Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) Innovator and educationist SonamWangchuk, the real life Phunsukh Wangdu of Aamir Khan-starrer'3 Idiots', aims to set up a skill-based university at a costof Rs 800 crore in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
After setting up SECMOL, a non-traditional school whichbrought in educational reform in the region and improved thenumber of students clearing exams up to intermediate level,Wangchuk is planning something bigger this time which hebelieves would help students earn bread and butter income.
The engineer-turned educationist told PTI that he plansto set up a university, Himalayan Institute of Alternatives,Ladakh, over 200 acres in Phyang Valley. The land has beenallotted by the Ladakh Hill Council, he said.
To fund his one-year old idea, Wangchuk has joined handswith crowdfunding platform Milaap to raise initial funding.
"In the first phase, we look to start our first course ofintegrated mountain development from March-April 2018 forwhich we need Rs 14 crore. Rs 7 crore will be raised throughcrowd funding ... on Milaap by January 26, 2018 and another Rs7 crore is to be collected from corporate CSR to take theplan forward," he said.
The crowd funding campaign has also seen some unthinkablevolunteers, he said.
Arjun Rajawat, an 8th grade student from Ridge ValleySchool, Gurgaon, raised Rs 1 lakh through a campaign of hisown among his school friends and relatives. Similarly theSingapore International School, Mumbai raised Rs 2 lakhthrough various activities done by its students.
"I gave up everything for the people of this far-offregion. I myself have given Rs 2 crore ... I invite investorsto come to Ladakh and see what are the issues from educationto basic lifestyle here and help me in this dream," Wangchuksaid.
When asked about degrees to be offered to students, hereplied there will two models of eduction -- one will be arecognised course and the other will be more a "non-degreeskill-based" programme.
The certified course will be paid and students of theskill-based courses will be paid by the university. Teacherscan be anyone from the field of agriculture, business,tourism. They must have practical knowledge than just a degreewith high marks, he said, adding talks are on with the Jammuand Kashmir government for certification. PTI ABIMR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.