UGC Chairman stresses need for expansion of higher education in rural areas

 By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal : The chairman of the University Grants Commission, (UGC), Sukhdev Thorat reviewed the utilization of the grant provided to the universities of the state and urged for sending suitable proposals for more grants in future here oo Saturday. He said that the proposals should be sent in such manner as may facilitate easy release of grants.
    
Thorat reviewed the utilization of the grants provided during the 10th Five Years Plan and urged that suitable proposals be sent for the 11th Five Years Plan. He said that utilization certificates of the grants should be sent. Stressing the need for expansion of higher education in rural and remote areas, he said that special attention be paid to students of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes. He also asked for full utilization of grants.
   
He emphasized the need for encouraging self-finance courses and maximizing vocational training facilities. He also suggested holding of special training programmes. The chairman said that the universities and colleges should increase their resources to improve the physical infrastructure and quality of education. He also called for increasing the faculties. He drew attention to the new developments and trends in higher education and said in view of these adequate attention should be paid to opening of new departments. The Commission would extend maximum possible cooperation for this, he assured.
   
Member of the UGC Dr. Shashi Rai; Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Mrs. Snehlata Shrivastava; Secretary, Ashish Upadhyaya; Commissioner, Higher Education, S.N. Mishra, vice chancellor of different universities, principals of colleges and concerning senior officers attended the meeting.
    
Dr. Shashi Rai said that all government colleges should obtain affiliation with concerning universities under 12 B. She also stressed the need for improving teaching infrastructure and facilities in colleges.
   
Principal Secretary, Higher Education delivered the welcome address. She dwelt on the efforts being made in the state to improve the quality of higher education in the state. She said that special attention has been paid to upgrading physical infrastructure, improvement in courses and quality of teaching in the state to produce students who are able to compete at international level.
   
The vice-chancellors expressed their views on various issues and sought Thorat’s guidance for solution to their problems. They said that the Commission should release the grants along with the sanction to obviate the difficulties caused by gap between sanction and release of grants.
   
Secretary, Higher Education, Ashish Upadhyaya conducted the meeting and Commissioner, Higher Education, S.N. Mishra expressed a vote of thanks. Deputy Secretary Dr. Umesh Singh; Additional Director I.B. Singh and education officer posted in the regional office of the Commission Vyas attended the meeting.
Video Conferencing
   
Later, the U.G.C. chairman Thorat held discussions through video conferencing from the NIC centre at Mantralaya, the Madhya Pradesh secretariat with the regional additional directors on various issues. He sought information about various matters including affiliation of colleges and the proposals sent to the Commission. He solved the various problems of the additional directors and provided guidance on various issues. He also apprised them of the norms laid down by the U.G.C.
   
Thorat said that the cases of autonomous colleges would be reviewed soon. This would facilitate release of grants to the colleges in future. He directed to send appropriate and justified proposals so as to ensure early sanction. He said that the funds sanctioned under various heads should not be diverted. ([email protected])

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