Ranchi: Welcomed several provisions in the Budget, educationists and academicians in Jharkhand on Monday said the allocation of Rs 50,000 crore for research and setting up of the commission with several verticals for higher education were positive steps.
Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi, director Shailendra Singh said, “The allocation of research fund for a period of five years will encourage aspiring research scholars and new faculty members. The setting up of a commission to act as an umbrella body will create synergy in work and reduce inter-agency conflicts. Entrepreneurs and universities will have to deal with a single body instead of multiple organisations.”
Ranchi University Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Kamini Kumar said, “The commission will ensure transparency in work and coordination between different wings of education. It will be very useful for teachers and students.”
The government has also announced starting of 750-odd Eklavya schools for tribal students across the country. Sources said 69 of these will be new, 23 already exist and 16 are under construction. A state government official stated the Centre has sought land for construction of 69 schools in different parts of Jharkhand and the site for most have been identified. The schools will be built in blocks that have at least 20,000 tribals and their population is more than 50% of the total.
The government has also increased the budget allocation for Eklavya Vidyalayas from Rs 20 crore to Rs 38 crore in plain areas and from Rs 24 core to Rs 48 crore in hilly, northeast and LWE affected areas.
The decision to open 15,000 model schools means that 20 schools could be opened in each district on an average across the country. Even though the exact number of schools for the tribal state of Jharkhand is yet to be ascertained, experts say that they would be in significant number. The state government is also working on scheme to set up 89 model schools under a different scheme.
Education secretary Rahul Sharma said, “The decision to open model schools will certainly improve school infrastructure in the state.”