BHUBANESWAR: The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has released the second phase financial allotment of around Rs 17.75 crore under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) - the ambitious higher education programme to reinvigorate colleges and universities in Odisha. The funds have been sanctioned for infrastructure development of 21 colleges and five universities in the State.
In January, the Project Approval Board of RUSA had decided to provide infrastructure grants of Rs 100 crore to Utkal University, Sambalpur University, Berhampur University, Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) and Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT). Each university will get Rs 20 crore while Rs 10 crore was sanctioned for first phase work then. This month, the Ministry sanctioned Rs 12.50 crore with each of these universities getting Rs 2.50 crore under infrastructure head.
Similarly, it was decided that 21 degree colleges in as many districts will be provided funds of Rs 2 crore each for infrastructure development and Rs 1 crore each was sanctioned in January. Currently, the Ministry has provided Rs 25 lakh each to colleges taking the total amount to Rs 5.25 crore. These colleges include Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja College at Berhampur, Government College in Koraput and SG Govt Women’s College in Sundargarh.
The Ministry has asked the Vice-Chancellors of the universities and principals of degree colleges to start construction works immediately so that 75 per cent of the released amount is utilised within May this year. On submission of the utilisation certificates, the balance amount for each college and university will be released by the Ministry.
Under the programme, KKS Women’s College in Balasore, SCS Autonomous College in Puri and Government College at Sundargarh will also be upgraded as model colleges. The three colleges would receive a total of Rs 12 crore of which Rs 6 crore has already been sanctioned.
The largest scheme of its kind, RUSA will be funded by Central and State Governments in the ratio of 65:35 as per demands of institutes concerned based on their proposal in a four-year process. The State will get a fund of Rs 154.8 crore for 2015-16. Last year, the MHRD had sanctioned Rs 31.2 crore for setting up eight model degree colleges in Odisha under the programme.
Higher Education Mission
In January, Project Approval Board of RUSA had decided to provide infrastructure grants of Rs 100 crore to Utkal University, Sambalpur University, Berhampur University, BPUT and VSSUT
It was also decided that 21 degree colleges in as many districts will be provided funds of Rs 2 crore each for infrastructure development