Twenty districts in the State have been identified by the Centre under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
Based on the lines of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), it is meant for upgrading the quality of higher education across the country.
In all, the Centre has identified 374 districts across the country for the same. The grant is based on the student involvement and the university proposals to upgrade the infrastructure, including maintenance of student-teacher ratio and research projects.
It is said in these 20 districts, the selected model colleges will each recieve a grant of Rs 12 crore. Higher Education Department sources said the government is expecting close to Rs 500 crore, spread across 12th and 13th Five Year Plan.
Minister for Higher Education R V Deshpande said: “We held discussion in Delhi with officials regarding the benefits of RUSA. October 31 was the deadline to submit certain proposals to the Centre.”
Infrastructure facilities
“The scheme would help in strengthening infrastructure facilities in government colleges. While two-third of the cost will be met by HRD, the rest will be borne by the State. A perspective plan is required to serve as a blue print for giving impetus to higher education in the State. This is being done now.”
The government has agreed to a contribution of 35 per cent, for the 65 per cent of Centre’s contribution, towards RUSA in the State.
In an affidavit submitted to MHRD, Principal Secretary for Higher Education Rajneesh Goel has said the government is ready to increase its expenditure on higher education for being eligible under RUSA programme.
Meanwhile, the two-day conference will see participation of 12 different states from across the country to discuss issues/obstacles in implementing the programme.
Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (MHRD) Shashi Tharoor is expected to inaugurate the meet. The State government will host the conference on November 25, as an expression of interest in seeking benefits under the Centre sponsored scheme.
Dists include Bagalkot, Bangalore Rural, Belgaum, Bellary, Chamrajanagar, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Dakshina Kannada, Gadag, Hassan, Haveri, Kodagu, Kolar, Koppal, Mandya, Raichur, Tumkur, Udupi and Uttara Kannada.