Model Degree College soon In Nabarangpur.

Nabarangpur: Basant Rath, Journalist

The district administration has initiated process for setting up a model degree college in the district under the centrally sponsored scheme Establishment of Model Degree Colleges in Educationally Backward districts.

The project cost has been estimated Rs. 12 crores and in the first phase Rs. 2.5 crore has been sanctioned. Collector Md. Sadique Alam, said we have

already identified land for the college at Nuaguda in Nandahandi block also discussed with the Executive Engineer R & B for tender process.  

The Higher Education Secretary Gagan Dhal said in a latter that the Union Human Resource Development Ministry have provided funds for establishment of Model Degree Colleges in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) districts to provide better education facility and to ensure equality and access to the students of the locality. The unit cost for the development of infrastructure of the college is Rs. 12 crores. Out of which a sum of Rs. 2.5 crores has been initially placed with Executive Engineer of R &B vide letter No 17245 dated 30^th July 2014 with model layout for the college.

Mr. Dhal, requested collectors to ensure the tendering process for construction of building within September 2014. Also requested collectors to monitor the construction work of it regularly so that   the colleges will start functioning from the coming academic session 2015-16. Such college will also be set up in Boudh, Deogarh, Malkangiri, Nayagarh,  Nuapada, Rayagada and Sonepur districts.

According to UGC norms, the Centre will provide assistance to the extent of one-third of the capital cost for each college with maximum margin being ` 2.67 crore. Also, the land for college will be provided free of cost by the State Government.

The model colleges which are part of the Centre’s new scheme to provide assistance to set up a model degree college in each of the identified 374 educationally backward districts in the country where GER for higher education is less than the national average. This scheme is also part of government's policy for access, participation and expansion of higher education.

The scheme aims at increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in educationally backward districts where the GER is less than the national average of 12.4 per cent and subsequently increase the GER in higher education from 12.4 pc to 30 pc by 2020.

In June last year, the Department of Higher Education had placed a proposal before the UGC for opening model degree colleges in Boudh (having GER of 6.8 pc), Deogarh (9.7), Malkangiri (3.9), Nayagarh (9.6), Nabarangapur (3.5), Nuapada (6.7), Rayagada (6.7) and Sonepur (10.5).