Odisha On RUSA Mode Bhubaneswar : 30/October/2013 With the deadline coming to an end on 31 October, 2013, the Odisha Government has sent its willingness to implement the Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme of the Centre in the state for improvement of the Higher Education system of the state. Gagan Kumar Dhal, Principal Secretary Higher Education today sent a letter of willingness of the State Government to participate in RUSA, as the proposed scheme is aimed at increasing enrolment in the Higher Education institutions to 30 per cent by 2020 as against the present 12.4 per cent. All the universities and colleges in Odisha will be covered under RUSA, said an official of the Department of Higher Education (DoHE). DoHE officials said the program would be funded in the ratio of 65:35 in the State, with the Centre contributing 65 per cent of the cost. The official added that Odisha has agreed to fulfill certain prerequisites such as setting up of a State Higher Education Council (SHEC), Preparation of State Perspective plan, Annual Plan and Budget Plan for Higher Education in order to be eligible for funds from the Union Government. Officials confirm that the expenditure on Higher Education in the state at present is 0.46 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GSDP). Sources said that during 2010-11, GSDP was Rs.1,94, 465 crore and spending in Higher Education was 0.68 per cent, which came down to 0.55 per cent in 2011-12 with GSDP of Rs.2, 15,899 crore. It further receded to 0.46 per cent with Rs.2, 58, 744 crore in 2012-13. Expressing the commitment of the State Government to hike the expenditure in Higher Education, Mr.Dhal said that by 2016-17, the State Government will raise the expenditure of Higher Education by One per cent of the GSDP. The State Government informed the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) that it is continuing to recruit faculty in Colleges and Universities of the state to fill up vacancies. Commitment to bring in administration, accreditation, affiliation, examination and governance reforms in the state and will set up a State Project Directorate of RUSA by 31 January, 2014 to implement the massive project.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 10:00:44 +0000