Government Launches PM-USHA Scheme for Educational Institutes In Odisha
On January 1, The Odisha government announced PM-USHA scheme for educational institutes to enhance the education facilities and integrate them with technological changes according to the environment.
PM-USHA Scheme:
The minister further noted that the higher educational institutions in the state will receive Rs 676.7 crore under the PM -USHA scheme. The PM-USHA scheme has been categorized under four components which include Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU), grants to strengthen universities (accredited and unaccredited) and colleges (accredited and unaccredited), gender inclusion and equity initiatives (GIEI). Funds provided under the PM-USHA scheme will be used for the improvement of classrooms, libraries, hostel rooms, enhancement of accessibility for differently-abled students, procurement of advanced laboratory equipment, etc., in the educational institutions in the state.
Total Budget Announced:
The Union government has sanctioned Rs 670 crore for Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA scheme) in Odisha. Besides this, an additional one percent amounting to Rs 6.7 crore has also been sanctioned for the state under the Management Monitoring Evaluation and Research (MMER) grant. The announcement was made by Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj. The state will provide around 40 percent or Rs 268 crore of the total grant while the Centre will provide Rs 408.7 crore.
Who will be benefitted:
To strengthen the infrastructure, education, and research facilities, four universities including Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, Berhampur Universities in Ganjam, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur University in Odisha will get Rs 100 crore each under the MERU category. The universities present in the five districts of Odisha — Vikram Deb Autonomous College (university) in Koraput, Rajendra University in Balangir and the Kalahandi University in Kalahandi, Odisha State Open University and Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur have been allotted Rs 20 crore each under the grants to strengthen universities category.
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