1132 Crores budget passed for higher education, skill development, technical education, employment, science and technology in Chattisgarh

Raipur : Grant demands of Chhattisgarh Government’s Higher Education, Skill Development, Technical Education, Employment and Science Technology Department for upcoming fiscal year 2017-18 have been passed with voice vote in Vidhan Sabha today. Nearly Rs 1132 crore 40 lakh 36 thousand have been provisioned for the same. Minister Mr. Premprakash Pandey informed the members in detail about the provisions. He informed that Rs 694 crores 72 lakh 16 thousand have been provisioned for Higher Education Department, Rs 416 crore 68 lakh 44 thousand have been provisioned for Skill Development, Technical Education, and Employment Department, and Rs 21 crore 75 lakh have been provisioned in the new budget for Science and Technology Department.

Mr. Pandey informed that in the higher education sector, state government in association with NTPC has established International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Naya Raipur, which includes two branches of Computer Science and Electronics with 60-seats in each branch available for admission. Ph.D.  has also been started from August 2016, where in three students have been given admission. In fiscal year 2017-18, Rs 20 crores have been provisioned in the budget. Rs 80 crores have been provisioned for free laptop-tablet distribution to college students of graduation and post-graduation courses under Chhattisgarh Yuva Soochna Kranti. Mr. Pandey informed that as per the announcement of state government, more than Rs one crore have been provisioned for opening a new government polytechnic institute in Balod district. He said that special provisions have been made for ensuring security in hostels. Rs two crores have been provisioned for construction of new hostel in fiscal year 2017-18 and Rs one crore 40 lakh have been provisioned for Superintendent’s residential quarter and Rs 40 lakh have been provisioned for construction of boundary walls in two girls’ hostels.

He also shared that, the budget discussion related to skill development and employment department, Mr. Pandey said that skill development off youth is the priority of state government. At the time of state formation ITIs were there in only 13 districts of the state and total seats available was 5960. Presently, total 172 ITIs are running in state, with 19 thousand 360 seats. Livelihood Colleges are also being run in state to provide short-term professional courses to youngsters.

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