IMPHAL, October 23: The State cabinet has today approved the implementation of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) in the state with immediate effect.
Finalization of plans to outsource Hotel Imphal and Sendra Tourist Home, on a trial basis for six months to private companies, was made during the meeting.
The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, began this morning at 9, wherein seven agendas were placed for discussion. Three agendas, including the one on RUSA were passed.
Briefing media persons on the development, government spokesperson M Okendro, who is also the Education minister, informed that the education is plagued by many shortcomings ranging from lack of infrastructures to manpower issues.
Okendro revealed that the Central Government had sent a written intimation to State government giving information that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the new schemes of RUSA for Higher and Technical Education on October 13 last and seeking an acceptance letter if the state is willing to implement the scheme.
Elaborating on the provisions of RUSA, he stated that the central-state share in funding the scheme will be in the ratio of 90:10 for north-eastern states, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand.
Other facilities incorporated in RUSA are infrastructure development of colleges and state universities, faculty recruitment support, faculty improvement programs, vocationalisation of higher education to enhance employability of students, institutional restricting and reforms, capacity building and planning support, MIS support, provision of new model colleges, upgradation of existing colleges into model colleges with priority on districts having one or two colleges etc, creation of cluster college universities, research, innovation and quality improvement, equity initiatives for improvement of enrolment of SC/ST against specified percent of reservations in the state and leadership development of educational administration including encouragement for women faculty.
Further, M Okendro disclosed that the cabinet had also agreed to outsource Hotel Imphal and Sendra Tourist Home, on a trial basis for six months to private companies. A tender will soon be floated to select companies who will take the responsibility for accommodation of tourists in connection with the forthcoming International Polo Festival and Sangai Festival.
Approval of guidelines for appointment of chief information officers was also another agenda approved, added the minister.
Meanwhile, the minister informed that it had invited the leaders of the four students’ bodies of Jiribam sub-division which includes AMSU, MSF, DESAM and KSA, for talks to bring an amicable solution to the current crisis gripping Jiribam.
The four students are currently imposing a total bandh along the National Highway 37 Imphal-Jiribam road, in protest against the Government apathy in finding a solution to its grievances related to lack of infrastructure and objectionable transfer of teachers.