Government Allocates ₹676 Crore for Educational Development in Odisha
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Bhubaneswar, Dec 31 (NationPress) Suryabanshi Suraj, the Minister of Higher Education in Odisha, announced on Tuesday that the Union government has allocated ₹670 crore for the execution of the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) in the state.
Additionally, the Minister informed that the Centre has granted an extra one percent, which totals ₹6.7 crore, for the state under the Management Monitoring Evaluation and Research (MMER) grant.
He stated that the state will contribute 40 percent of the total funding, amounting to ₹268 crore, while the Centre will cover ₹408.7 crore as its portion.
The educational institutions in Odisha will benefit from a total of ₹676.7 crore under the PM-USHA initiative, he explained.
The PM-USHA scheme is structured into four main components, which encompass Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU), funding to enhance universities (both accredited and unaccredited) and colleges (also accredited and unaccredited), and initiatives aimed at gender inclusion and equity (GIEI).
According to the Minister, four universities -- Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, Berhampur University in Ganjam, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Mayurbhanj, and Sambalpur University in Odisha -- will each receive ₹100 crore under the MERU category.
This financial support under MERU aims to bolster the infrastructure as well as the education and research facilities within these universities.
Universities located in five districts of Odisha -- Vikram Deb Autonomous College in Koraput, Rajendra University in Balangir, Kalahandi University in Kalahandi, Odisha State Open University, and Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur -- have been allocated ₹20 crore each under the grants aimed at strengthening universities.
Furthermore, districts such as Bhadrak, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, and Sambalpur will receive ₹10 crore each under the GIEI to promote the involvement of women and other marginalized groups in higher education through initiatives like self-defense training programs and skill enhancement workshops for self-employment.
A total of 24 colleges across various districts will be awarded ₹5 crore each under the grants designated for strengthening colleges.
The Minister emphasized that the funds allocated through the PM-USHA scheme will be utilized for enhancing classrooms, libraries, hostel facilities, improving accessibility for differently-abled students, and acquiring advanced laboratory equipment in the state's educational institutions.
Earlier this year, in September, the state government formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education to initiate the PM-USHA scheme, in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and State Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
