The idea for a central tribal university was suggested by Orissa CM, on 24th October 2005, which the HRD minister had appreciated. Following is an excerpt from the press release issued by Orissa government at that time:
… In addition to this, Shri Patnaik also requested for establishment of a Central University for the KBK Region, which is one of the most backward regions in the country. He pointed out that there was a heavy concentration of the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste population in this region, which has a literacy rate below 50%. Shri Patnaik stated that setting up a Central University in the KBK region would go a long way in encouraging higher education among tribal population. He added that the university could also set up specialized centres for tribal development related studies, as tribal development was one of the biggest challenges facing the country today. Shri. Arjun Singh appreciated the rationale of having a Central University in the KBK region and sought a formal proposal in this regard from the State Government. He assured that this would receive high priority whenever the Central Government considers setting up of new central universities.
Orissa MPs also pursued it and we had sent detail proposal on it to the planning commission and HRD ministry and the PM. The similarity between the above goals and the goals of the tribal university in MP (given below) suggests that the HRD minister Mr. Arjun Singh might have stolen the idea of a central tribal university to his home state. We wrote to the Swaminadhan committee that recommended the setting up of a tribal university and also to MHRD regarding the timeline, but no response was given. If the idea was indeed stolen, then it is a pity as such opportunistic behavior by the HRD ministry would discourage states from suggesting ideas.
Even though Orissa has been given a central university (other than the world class university), Orissa should continue pursuing its goal for a separate tribal central university for two reasons:
- The tribal university that Orissa wants in its KBK+ region was supposed to have multiple campuses like the one in Amar Kantak.
- It should have a significant percentage of seats reserved for tribals.
In any case, following is the PIB from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=37584 about the foundation stone laying.
| SHRI ARJUN SINGH LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL TRIBAL UNIVERSITY AT AMARKANTAK IN MADHYA PRADESH
A LANDMARK INITIATIVE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR FACILITATING HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR TRIBALS
THE TRIBAL UNIVERSITY WILL BE DEVELOPED INTO WORLD-CLASS INSTITUION: ARJUN SINGH
|
| |
19:2 IST |
A new chapter was added today in the field of higher education and research facilities for the tribal population in the country when Union Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Arjun Singh laid the foundation stone of a new Central University namely Indira Gandhi National Tribal University at Amarkantak in Anupur district, Madhya Pradesh. The objects of the University shall include, inter-alia, promoting studies and research in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, custom, medicinal systems, forest based economic activities, including special studies in the flora and fauna, and advancements in technologies relating to natural resources of the tribal areas. It shall make special provisions for the promotion of educational, economic interests and welfare of the members belonging to the Scheduled Tribes.
Speaking on this occasion, Shri Arjun Singh said that this is an historical occasion and a moment of pride for the entire nation. He said that this University will go a long way in providing new direction to the youth in tribal areas in meeting the challenges of the future through education and learning. This University will have live contact and coordination with other Central universities, tribal research institutions and other higher learning and research organisations and will make use of the available knowledge from every part of the country and the world to meet its solemn objectives. He said that it is necessary to have scientific temperament, aptitude for research and respect for human values and a true faith in science and knowledge.
Shri Singh pointed out that the University will be developed into world-class institution of learning. The jurisdiction of this University will extend to the whole country. The Minister said that University will be fully funded by the Central Government through the University Grants Commission like other Central Universities. The Minister said that it is necessary to have special attachment towards the local community and special focus on the development of the local tribal areas with full dedication and commitment so as to fully meet the objectives of this University.
Referring to the inadequate participation of tribal community in higher education, the Minister said that it is a matter of serious concern as the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is only 6.61 compared to the national GER of 11.6. The GER of girls from the tribal population is even lower which is 4.69. He said that low access to higher education for the tribal youth puts them at disadvantage in higher studies. The Minister said that there is high concentration of tribal population in North Eastern states and in the area comprising parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat. While North Eastern States have at least one Central University in each State, there is no Central University especially catering to the population in the other tribal concentrated areas.
The Minister said that the University has been named after late Smt. Indira Gandhi in recognition of her deep contribution and commitment for the welfare of tribals. He said that present University will meet this requirement and will have the right to open regional centre and campus in desired areas. The Minister said that the Regional Campuses to be opened will be named after the great personalities of the concerned area like Veer Narain Singh, Goondadhur, Birsa Munda etc. so as to pay nation’s tribute to them.
He said that universities are generally established in big metros or urban areas and there are advantages of locating the universities in such areas. But the true flavour of the tribal University will come only if it is located in the midst of tribal areas. The very purpose of the establishment of this University is to make it a prime mover for development in the tribal areas hitherto neglected. He said that the seat of the University has been chosen to be a Central point in the tribal areas stretching between Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. He said that Amarkantak is a great pilgrim centre as well as source of the two important rivers of the country namely Narmada and Sone.
Shri Arjun Singh thanked the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, for ensuring adequate land and proper facilities of electricity and water for this prestigious project.
The Minister hoped that the University will soon select all its managing authorities. He pointed out that the Act of this University has a special provision to ensure adequate representation of Scheduled Tribes in various bodies of the University. The Minister said that though in 11th Five Year Plan, the Central Government is opening several institutions in the field of higher education like IITs, NITs and Management Institutions, but this tribal University will have a pivotal role among them in higher education. The Minister called upon everybody to contribute for the development of this great institution of learning.
The messages of Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, and Smt. Sonia Gandhi, UPA Chairperson were also read out on this occasion. Dr. S.N. Subbarao, noted Gandhian and founder of National Service Scheme presided over the programme. Shri Vijay Shah, Minister for Forest and Scheduled Tribe Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Smt. Jamuna Devi, Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Shri Suresh Pachauri, former Union Minister, Shri Charan Das Mahant, former Minister in Government of Madhya Pradesh, , Shri Dalpat Singh Parastay, Member of Parliament (Shadol Constituency), Shri R.P. Agrawal, Secretary, Dept. of Higher Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India were among those present on this occasion.
AKS/HB/VL/GK
April 20th, 2008
Following is an excerpt from a report in http://www.domain-b.com/economy/general/20080419_expansion.html.
As the country marches ahead on the path of progress its energy needs are continuously growing, the state-owned Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is all geared up to rise to this challenge. The entity is even mulling going public to raise funds for its aggressive expansion plans. All such details were unveiled at Kolkata yesterday by the union minister of state for power Jairam Ramesh. …
He added that DVC would set up a world-class research and development centre at Rajarhat Township near Kolkata, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, at an investment of Rs.100 crore, for which land has already been acquired.
Now we have some idea on what is happening with IIT Kharagpur’s branch campus plan in Kolkata. Orissa should rope in companies like NALCO and OMC for enhancing the Bhubaneswar center of IIT Kharagpur.
April 19th, 2008
Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.
Indian School of Business (ISB) is likely to set up its second campus in Mohali and is in talks with the Punjab Government for acquiring land.
“We are in the advanced stage of talks with the Punjab Government and something concrete might come up in about a month,” Mr M. Rammohan Rao, Dean, ISB, told Business Line here on Wednesday.
The Hyderabad-based premier business school is pitching for about 70 acres of land which is likely to be considered by the Punjab Government. However, ISB is keen on getting the land with “no strings” attached. …
ISB would be willing to oblige any demands from the Government such as a position on ISB’s board or any say in fixation of fees, etc., he explained.
The Orissa government should approach ISB for a campus in Orissa.
This report in Indian Express says that Mohali will also get an IIM. This may be a case of misreporting as the PIB did not mention an IIM in Punjab. It did mention an IIM in Harayana and the IIM in Haryana could be in a Harayana suburb of Chandigarh.
April 19th, 2008
The 11th plan intends to establish 10 NITs. Following is a list of the existing 20 NITs and the 5 4 proposed IIESTs which is proposed to be part of the NIT act. (IT BHU, which was earlier proposed to be an IIEST, is now slated to become an IIT.)
- Andhra Pradesh: NIT Warangal, IIEST Visakhapatnam (Andhra Univ. Eng. College), IIEST Hyderabad (Osmania Univ. Eng. College)
- Assam and 7 other north-eastern states: NIT Silchar
- Arunachal Pradesh:
- Manipur:
- Meghalaya:
- Mizoram:
- Nagaland:
- Sikkim:
- Tripura: NIT Tripura
- Bihar: NIT Patna
- Chhattisgarh: NIT Raipur
- Goa:
- Gujarat: NIT Surat
- Haryana: NIT Kurukshetra
- Himachal Pradesh: NIT Hamirpur
- Jammu and Kashmir: NIT Srinagar
- Jharkhand: NIT Jamshedpur
- Karnataka: NIT Surathkal
- Kerala: NIT Calicut, IIEST Kochi (CUSAT)
- Madhya Pradesh: NIT Bhopal
- Maharashtra: NIT Nagpur
- Orissa: NIT Rourkela
- Punjab: NIT Jallandhar
- Rajasthan: NIT Jaipur
- Tamil Nadu: NIT Trichy
- Uttarakhand:
- Uttar Pradesh: NIT Allahabad
- West Bengal: NIT Durgapur, IIEST Howrah (BESU)
March 31st, 2008
Below we list the existing the existing IITs (7), IISc (1), IISERs(5)/NISER(1), IIMs(6), Central Universities and the proposed new ones (9 IITs, 7 IIMs, 14 world class central univs -WCCU, 16 central univs). (We also list a few other marquee institutions.) The recently established ones are in green and the new ones are in red.
- 28 States
- Andhra Pradesh: CU Hyderabad, CU: Maulana Azad National Urdu Univ, CU – CIEFL; Workers Technical University – CU, IIT in Hyderabad, WCCU
Vizag Kadapa Vizag
- Assam and 7 other north-eastern states: CU: Assam University, CU: Tezpur University, IIT Guwahati, WCCU GUwahati
- Arunachal Pradesh: CU
- Manipur: Central Agricultural University – Imphal, CU: Manipur University
- Meghalaya: CU – NEHU Shillong, IIM Shillong
- Mizoram: CU – Mizoram University Aizawl
- Nagaland: CU – Nagaland University
- Sikkim: CU – Sikkim University
- Tripura: CU – Tripura University
- Bihar: IIT in Patna, WCCU Patna, CU
- Chhattisgarh: IIM (Raipur), CU – Guru Ghasidas University Bilaspur
- Goa: CU- Goa University
- Gujarat: IIM Ahmedabad, IIT, WCCU Gandhinagar, CU
- Haryana: IIM, CU
- Himachal Pradesh: IIT, CU
- Jammu and Kashmir: IIM, CU
- Jharkhand: ISM Dhanbad, IIM, CU
- Karnataka: IISc Bangalore, IIM Bangalore, WCCU Mysore, CU
- Kerala: IIM Kozhikode, IISER Trivendrum, IIST Trivendrum, WCCU Kochi, CU
- Madhya Pradesh: IIM Indore, IISER Bhopal, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University – Amarkantak, IIT in Indore, WCCU Bhopal, CU – Hari Singh Gaur University in Sagar
- Maharashtra: CU: Mahatma Gandhi Antarashtriya Hindi Univ. Wardha, IIT Bombay, IISER Pune, WCCU Pune,
- Orissa: NISER Bhubaneswar, IIT, WCCU Bhubaneswar, CU
- Punjab: IISER Mohali, IIT, WCCU Amritsar, CU
- Rajasthan: IIT, WCCU Jaipur, CU
- Tamil Nadu: IIT Madras, CU – Indian Maritime University, IIM Trichy, WCCU Coimbatore, CU
- Uttarakhand: IIT Roorkee, IIM, CU
- Uttar Pradesh: CU- AMU, CU – Allahabad University, CU – BHU, CU – Ambedkar Univ Lucknow, IIT Kanpur, IIM Lucknow, RGIPT, Rae Bareilly, IT BHU -> IIT , WCCU Noida
- West Bengal: CU – Viswa Bharati University Shantiniketan, IIT Kharagapur, IIM Calcutta, IISER Kolkata, WCCU Kolkata
- Union Territories
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Chandigarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- Daman and Diu
- Delhi: IIT Delhi, CU: Delhi University, CU: JNU, CU: IGNOU, CU: Jamia Milia Islamia
- Lakshadweep
- Puducherry: CU – Pondicherry University
March 28th, 2008
(The following is from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nis_iiser/message/731)
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, we at Agami Odisha decided that we will no longer remain silent on all such step-motherly attitude of Center. All who are around Bhubaneswar may join in our Rally to Raj Bhawan for our demand of IIT/ making UCE, Burla an IIEST and asking MLA for bringing out comprehensive solution for eradication of Poverty in Orissa Assembly. We must make people aware by going to the street. Let us feel responsible and perform it as a duty to our motherland Odisha.
Programme:
16th March’08: Time 9AM: Place AG Square, Bhubaneswar; 1/2 an hour Rally to Raj Bhawan
19th March’08: Time 5.30PM: Place Lower PMG/ Master canteen Square: 1/2 an hour Mashal Rally
Subsequent action plan for Delhi will be decided.
Yours,
Lalit Pattnaik,
Working President AGAMI ODISHA
March 13th, 2008
Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=36337.
|
S. No.
|
Name of the State/UT
|
Number of Medical Colleges
|
Total number of medical colleges
|
Total number of MBBS seats
|
Total number of PG seats
|
|
|
|
Govt.
|
Private
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
11
|
21
|
32
|
4225
|
925
|
|
2
|
Assam
|
3
|
–
|
3
|
391
|
219
|
|
3
|
Bihar
|
6
|
2
|
8
|
510
|
246
|
|
4
|
Chandigarh
|
1 + (PG 1)
|
–
|
1
|
50
|
13
|
|
5
|
Chhatisgarh
|
3
|
|
3
|
250
|
44
|
|
6
|
Delhi
|
5
|
–
|
5
|
560
|
501
|
|
7
|
Goa
|
1
|
–
|
1
|
100
|
39
|
|
8
|
Gujarat
|
8
|
5
|
13
|
1755
|
838
|
|
9
|
Haryana
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
350
|
113
|
|
10
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
2
|
–
|
2
|
115
|
48
|
|
11
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
350
|
197
|
|
12
|
Jharkhand
|
3
|
–
|
3
|
190
|
126
|
|
13
|
Karnataka
|
10
|
29
|
39
|
4755
|
1669
|
|
14
|
Kerala
|
6
|
12
|
18
|
2100
|
420
|
|
15
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
1120
|
395
|
|
16
|
Maharashtra
|
19
|
21
|
40
|
4560
|
1435
|
|
17
|
Manipur
|
1
|
–
|
1
|
100
|
67
|
|
18
|
Orissa
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
764
|
184
|
|
19
|
Pondicherry
|
1
|
7
|
8
|
975
|
192
|
|
20
|
Punjab
|
3
|
5
|
8
|
820
|
776
|
|
21
|
Rajasthan
|
6
|
2
|
8
|
850
|
354
|
|
22
|
Sikkim
|
1
|
–
|
1
|
50
|
–
|
|
23
|
Tamil Nadu
|
15
|
10
|
25
|
2865
|
1178
|
|
24
|
Tripura
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
200
|
–
|
|
25
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
10
|
6
|
16
|
1712
|
780
|
|
26
|
Uttaranchal
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
300
|
60
|
|
27
|
West Bengal
|
9
|
–
|
9
|
1105
|
186
|
|
|
Total
|
138
|
133
|
271
|
31172
|
11005
|
March 12th, 2008
Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.
President Pratibha Patil has asked the government to set up an Indian Institute of Technology exclusively for girls.
She has also insisted that it be built in Amravati, her former Lok Sabha constituency. Amravati is in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha, which has seen a spate of suicides by debt-ridden farmers.
None of the country’s top institutes of higher education like the IITs or the Indian Institutes of Management caters only to women. Nor is there any central university meant only for women.
In a letter to the human resource development ministry dated March 7, Rashtrapati Bhavan has said the IIT in Amravati should be set up as soon as possible. A project proposal was attached with the request.
Pratibha’s husband Devisingh Shekhawat hails from Amravati and was once mayor there. She herself represented it in the Lok Sabha between 1991 and 1996.
… The IIT proposal has been prepared by Kamal Singh, vice-chancellor of Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University.
… The proposal suggests that the new IIT offer only “integrated†courses, where students fresh out of school can get postgraduate degrees after five years.
The existing seven IITs have some five-year integrated courses, but Singh said she was in favour of making them mandatory across all streams.
Statistics on IIT recruitment have shown that a larger section of postgraduate students choose work in India over foreign jobs, unlike undergraduate students.
March 12th, 2008