One model college each would be developed in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts of Uttarakhand. The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar made this declaration during a meeting with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The CM met the Union Minister at Shastri Bhawan on the day and held elaborate discussions on issues like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme.
The Union Government also accepted the demand of the state to construct two campuses in National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar. Javadekar also ordered release of pending payment of Rs 211 Crores under RMSA to the Uttarakhand government. Acceptance to release pending budget for payment to the private schools for admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) was also given in the meeting.
The Union HRD Minister also gave nod to the State Government’s proposal of providing budget to renovation works in the disaster affected buildings of HNB Garhwal central university Srinagar and release of funds for construction of laboratory and up gradation of colleges under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
On the request of CM Rawat that the residential schools should be developed in 27 blocks of the state situated on international border, Javadekar also assured that he would seriously consider the proposal.
Rawat suggested that the funds needed to be given under the RTE act to the private schools should also be included in the general works of the SSA.
He also informed the Union HRD Minister about an order of Uttarakhand High Court (HC) in which it has directed the State Government to provide basic infrastructure, furniture, toilets, computer room, laboratory, library and scholarships in all Government schools.
He said that considering huge financial burden to fulfil the order the Union Government should provide a separate budget to the Uttarakhand Government.
The meeting was also attended by Uttarakhand education minister Arvind Pandey, state Higher education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, additional Chief secretary Om Prakash, secretary education Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh and secretary to the Chief Minister Radhika Jha.