Rama Krishna Sangem
In a landmark event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sanctioned Rs 100 crore funds to Palamuru University (PU) in Telangana in virtual mode, on February 20, Tuesday. PM Modi who visited Jammu earlier in the day launched several projects relating to the state as well as education sector. Those of education ministry included opening of newly built campuses to many IIMs, IIMs and several higher education schemes.
PU Vice-Chancellor Prof LB Lakshmi Kant Rathod, Mahabubnagar Lok Sabha MP M Srnivas Reddy, Mahabubnagar MLA Yennam Srinivas Reddy, PU In Charge registrar Prof Madhusudhan Reddy were among those unveiled a plaque on the varsity campus to mark the occasion. Faculty, non-teaching staff and students too took part in the programme. The funds were granted under MERU programme.
This is a big good news for PU as this is the first time the varsity got a Rs 100 in one single grant from the PM RUSA (Prime Minister’s Rashtriya Uchhatar Siksha Abhiyan) from the union education ministry. The PU which was set up in 2007-08 is located in Mahabubnagar, a backward district of Telangana. The varsity has been struggling to get funds for its revenue expenditure, leave along capital expenditure like infrastructure etc and research and development.
“This is big boost to us”: Prof Rathod
Speaking on the occasion, PU VC Prof Rathod said that this grand of Rs 100 crore from the education ministry was a big boost to the university, to expand in many ways. Though the detailed guidelines from the Centre are yet to come, the varsity is planning to spend around Rs 79 crore on infrastructure facilities, which are pending for several years, and Rs 14 crore on research and development, Rs 5 crore on renovation and Rs 4 crore on training programmes.
MLA Yennam Srinivas Reddy, speaking on the occasion said that the Rs 100 crore grant from the Centre was a big boon to the university which caters to the students from backward areas of old Mahabubnagar district. “This region is famous for its social and political awareness. Sanction of funds from the PM RUSA is a positive development and we hope it would contribute to the further growth of the varsity,” he said.
These funds are released under MERU (Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities), a programme chalked out by the New Education Policy, 2020. Under this, public universities will be given assistance to improve their multidisciplinary education and facilities on par with IITs and IIMs. This way, Palamuru University is lucky to get this boost from the Centre this year.
