PU to Become Central University; IIT in Bihar; Says Union Minister
Patna: August 29, 2006
Much to the jubilation of the people of Bihar, the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development M. A. A. Fatmi, in Patna on Monday, announced the Central government's decision to accord Patna University the status of Central University and opening of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in the state.
The minister made the announcement while inaugurating the regional Center of the National Institute of Open Schooling in Patna.
"Patna deserves to be granted the status of central university. The state also has been asking for an IIT and an IIIT for a long time and now those dreams will be fulfilled," Fatmi said amidst much applause.
Fatmi, however, lamented that the state government was unable to spend central funding earmarked for various educational schemes. "The Center can provide all the money it needs to improve the educational standard in the state but if the money is not spent, then there is hardly any need for central assistance," Fatmi said adding out of Rs 2,400 crore given to Bihar under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, only Rs 1,300 crore had been spent.
The minister also said that the Center had given green signals to Kasturba Gandhi residential schools for girls in 129 blocks but the state government had been able to initiate the program in only 62 blocks so far.
Four new Central Schools (Kendriya Vidyalaya) will also be opened in Madhubani, Ararai, Supaul, and Sheohar bringing the total number of Central Schools in Bihar to 17, Fatmi said.
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