Rs. 2.75 lakh cr. allocation for education sector: Purandeswari

Centre to set up more IITs, NITs and Central universities

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New institutes to come up in backward areas

370 backward areas identified across country

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— Photo: M. Murali

Academic issues: Union Minister of State for HRD Daggubati Purandeswari addressing a press conference in Warangal on Thursday.

WARANGAL: Union Minister of State for HRD D. Purandeswari said the Central government made available Rs. 2.75 lakh crore for the education sector which is 10 times more than the previous year budget.

She said the education sector got 19 per cent of the total budget, of which Rs. 85,000 crore was meant for higher education.

The Central government has decided to set up more IITs, NITs, Central universities apart from focusing on secondary education. The new institutes would come up in backward areas in a phased manner. “A total of 370 backward areas have been identified across the country and preference will be given to those areas in setting up new institutes of higher learning,” she said.

Stone laid

Ms. Purandeswari refused to be dragged into controversy and avoided questions on political issues. Earlier in the day, she laid foundation stone for the Kendriya Vidyalaya at Kadipikonda near Kazipet and took part in a series of functions held at National Institute of Technology (NIT).

The Minister, later in the evening visited Kakatiya University where she laid foundation for construction of a building for the five-year integrated M.Sc chemistry course and a pharmacy boys hostel.

Addressing the gathering, she said that accessibility, equality and quality in education are the priorities of the government and it has a target of 15 per cent gross enrolment rate in higher education by 2012.

The government is committed to enhance the share of education in the GDP. She promised to extend all possible help to the university.

She released the mini diary of Administrative Officers Association of the university. Vice-Chancellor N. Lingamurthy, Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah, ZP Chairman L. Dhanvanti, Mayor E. Swarna and others were present.