Pradhan Mantri Uchtar Shiksha Abhiyan: State gets Rs 540 cr under PM-USHA to develop educational institutes

State varsities that are receiving Rs 100 crore each are – Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University, SNDT Women’s University, Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) and Gondwana University. The seven universities receiving Rs 20 crore each are Mumbai University, Homi Bhabha State University, Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Shivaji University Kolhapur, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University – Nanded, Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University – Jalgaon and Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University.

Among those sanctioned for a Rs 100 crore grant is SNDT Women’s University. Dr Ujwala Shirish Chakradeo, Vice Chancellor of the varsity headquartered in Mumbai, said, “We will use the funds to develop infrastructure of Mumbai’s Juhu campus and Pune campus. Our plan of starting a college with STEM courses for tribal girls from Palghar district will speed-up with this fund.”

Dr Prakash Mahanwar, VC of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University, another varsity sanctioned for Rs 100 crore said the funds will be utilised toward interdisciplinary education, research-work and infrastructure development.

Sharing the proposed plan submitted by Mumbai University for PM-USHA, Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Ravindra Kulkarni said, “Under the sanctioned grant, various schemes will be implemented and infrastructure developed in the Kalina campus, Thane sub-campus and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Kalyan campus. These will include infrastructural changes, like a new girls hostel in Kalina complex, volleyball ground in Thane suburb, solar power generation system, rainwater harvesting and other initiatives such as modernisation of the incubation center in Kalina campus, special work in artificial intelligence (AI)– allied health sector among all.”

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) was a centrally sponsored scheme to fund States/UTs institutions. The first phase of the scheme was launched in 2013 and the second phase was launched in 2018. Now, in the light of the National Education Policy, the RUSA scheme has been launched as Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).