Kits to boost engg studies

Kumaran P | NT

In a move to push engineering studies, the state government plans to start Karnataka Institute of Technology (KIT), on the lines of National Institute of Technology (NIT) and have it at seven different campuses.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “For state-of-the-art quality teaching and learning modules and to promote research in field of technological education, seven engineering colleges in the State will be upgraded as Karnataka Institute of Technology and MoU will be entered with prestigious foreign universities.”

The higher education department has been mulling over this for a long time and wanted to set up a worldclass technology institutes across the State. This could also affect the private universities and colleges in the State as Karnataka has highest number of such colleges in the country.

Experts say that a separate entrance and examination methodologies need to be addressed to set this up. “It will be better if the government ties up with existing colleges and develop them to the KIT model,” said an expert.

Bommai said, “Our objective is to bring social, educational and economic prosperity to all downtrodden people. Programmes have been formulated by my government based on the needs of people of this class. Action is being taken to develop talukas which are most backward in respect of health, education and nutrition by giving more importance to them. Definite steps are being taken for their overall development by formulating programmes with new thoughts, based on the factual status.”

Other highlights include identification of Talukas which are performing below the State average in various developmental indicators as Aspirational Talukas and emphasis will be given for comprehensive development of these Talukas. Priority will be given to the Aspirational Talukas under programmes of various departments. Outcome oriented efforts will be made to improve the quality of education in 93 talukas, strengthen the health services in 100 talukas and alleviate child malnutrition in 102 talukas at a total cost of Rs 3,000 crore. 

Over 100 “D r BR Ambedkar Hostel” for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe students and 10 KREIS Residential school buildings will be constructed at a total cost of Rs 750 crore through Public Works Department out of the grants provided under SCSP/TSP scheme to the Public Works Department. Over 50 well equipped “Kanakadasa Student Hostels” will be constructed for Backward Class Welfare Department at the cost of Rs.165 crore where hostels are being run in rented buildings.

Children’s wellness
The CM said that an action will be taken to alleviate malnutrition by integrating programmes of various departments. Facilities being given to children with severe malnutrition under Srishti and Ksheerabhagya scheme, will now be extended to children with moderate malnutrition also, from current year. Along with existing 32 District centres and 49 Talukas centres, 37 nutrition rehabilitation centres will be established to care for malnourished children.

Filling teaching posts
Approval has been accorded to fill up 15,000 vacant posts of teachers in primary and higher secondary schools in the year 2021-22 and the recruitment process is in progress. Around 27,000 guest teachers have been appointed to ensure that there is no hindrance to education of children till the recruitment process is completed.

The programmes organised by the Directorate of Mass Education will be continued by the Department of Public Education hence forth and 1,000 Gram Panchayats will be converted to fully literate Gram Panchayats in the next two years.

Digital libraries will be established across the State by the Department of Public Libraries and the digital libraries already established by all departments will be integrated with Department of Public Libraries.

Free coaching facility will be provided through online platform for KPSC, UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, CDS, NEET, JEE and other various competitive examinations under a new scheme named “Mukhyamantri Vidhyarthi Margadarshini”.

In the name of Smt Savithribai Phule, the symbol of courage for women, “Adarsh Shikshaka/Shikshaki” annual award will be instituted.

Recognising the services of midday-meal workers under Akshara Dasoha Scheme, the honorarium being paid to midday meal cooks and helpers will be increased by Rs 1,000.