Centre's big push to Telangana universities; Palamuru, Satavahana, Mahatma Gandhi get Rs 140 crore grant

Hyderabad: Central government's `Priority to Focus Districts’ in PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) scheme clinched the deal for Palamuru University, Satavahana University, and Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda, edging out the more reputed Osmania and Kakatiya varsities in Telangana from the race.

While Palamuru University was finalized for Rs 100 crore grant for development under `MERU (Multi-disciplinary Education and Research)’ component in PM-USHA, Satavahana University, Karimnagar, and Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda would receive Rs 20 crore each under `Grants to strengthen Universities’ component.

Union Ministry of Education aims to better hostel facilities in remote areas, to establish New Model Degree Colleges in the districts where there are no Government and Government-aided institutions, to give extra attention to low GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio), Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and Border area districts as well as aspirational districts and districts with higher SC/ ST and also to promote Gender equality in education.

This emphasis on Focus Districts is a new addition and was not part of the selection criteria in the earlier RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) 1.0 and 2.0 initiatives. It may be recalled that the RUSA scheme was launched by the Centre in 2013 to fund Higher Education institutions in States/UTs, with the vision to attain higher levels of access, equity, and excellence in the education system with greater efficiency, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. The second phase of RUSA was launched in 2018. Now, in light of the National Education Policy, the RUSA scheme has been renamed Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).

State Project Officials of PM-USHA, Telangana informed that a total of nine universities from Telangana had applied for the central grant, out of which three were finalized. The selected varsities will have to submit a detailed report on how they intend to spend funds on infrastructure, renovations, research, etc. after which the amount will be released phase-wise.

They will have time till March 2026 to utilize the grant. If the need arises further extension will be given. Under the PM-USHA, priority is being to the “Focus Districts”, stressed the officials.

It may be mentioned here that Osmania University was chosen for Rs 100 crore grant in RUSA 2.0 but it could not receive the full grant due to the Covid pandemic impact.

In all 26 universities across India were selected for the Rs 100 crore grant. However, states like UP and Maharashtra have seen an exception with Lucknow University and Mumbai University also featuring in the MERU institutions list.

Prof.B Lakshmikanth Rathod, Vice-Chancellor of Palamuru University, said the big funding will help Palamuru varsity get a major face-lift on par with the established universities. He informed that Palamuru was selected earlier for Rs 20 crore grant under RUSA 2.0 through which infrastructure got a big boost.

“Using the center's grant and the varsity's funds, women's hostel, exam branch building, guest house, and men's and women's hostels for PG Centres in Gadwal and Kolhapur were built, Prof Rathod informed. E-classrooms, labs strengthening, new research buildings, and full automation are on top of the priority list in the utilization of the PM-USHA grant,” the VC said.

Prof Ch. Gopal Reddy, Vice-chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda outlining his priorities said that they would utilize the central fund to build a women's hostel estimated at Rs 15 crore. “We have nearly 700 female students studying in the university,” he added.