161 higher education institutions in Odisha approved under RUSA scheme

BHUBANESWAR: The Centre has approved as many as 161 higher educational institutions including degree colleges and universities from Odisha under the Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme.
The objective of the RUSA scheme is to improve access, equity and quality in higher education through the planned development of higher education at the state level. It aims at creating new academic institutions, expanding and upgrading the existing ones, providing students with relevant education and creating an enabling atmosphere in the higher educational institutions to promote research and innovation.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan told Lok Sabha on Monday that Odisha has received a central share of Rs 395.42 crore till date under various components of the RUSA scheme.Some selected institutes from all 30 districts have been approved for the RUSA grant, the reply shows.
The fund is released for the creation of universities by conversion of colleges in a cluster, creation of universities by way of up-gradation of existing autonomous colleges, equity initiatives, infrastructure grants to colleges, infrastructure grants to universities, new model degree colleges, up-gradation of existing degree college to model degree college, preparatory grants and enhancing quality and excellence in select state universities.
The Centre has approved the highest number of institutes (14) from Balasore district under this scheme followed by Cuttack (11), Khurda (11), Ganjam (10), Mayurbhanj (8) and Jajpur (7). Two institutions- RD Women’s College Bhubaneswar, GM College Sambalpur and Khallikote College Berhampur- were upgraded into universities under this scheme. Nine universities have received infrastructure grants.
Odisha had joined RUSA on October 28, 2013, by committing to reform its higher education sector. Under this scheme, the Central share and state share are 60 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. The state joined RUSA 2.0 in the 12th project approval board meeting held on May 25, 2018.