Under RUSA, Maharashtra gets grants worth Rs 170 crore for colleges

In the first proposal for a cluster university, Hyderabad (Sind) Society’s Hassaram Rijhumal (HR) College of Commerce and Economics will be the lead college with Kishinchand Chellaram and Bombay Teacher’s Training college being the affiliated colleges.

In the second proposal, Rayat Shikshan Santha’s Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara, will be the lead college, and Dhananjay Rao Gadgil College of Commerce, Satara, and Rayat Shikshan Santha’s Chhatrapati Shivaji College, Satara, will be the affiliated colleges.

Among the autonomous colleges that have received a grant of Rs 5 crore each are Dr Bhanuben Nanavati College of Home Science, Guru Nanak Khalsa college of Arts, Science and Commerce, Changu Kana Thakur Arts, Science and Commerce, Hansaraj Jivandas College of Education, Sir Pashurambhau College, Tuljaram Chaturchand College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sadguru Gadge Maharaj College, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil University and Chikitsak Samuha’s Sir Sitaram and Lady Shantabai Patkar College of Arts and Science and V P Varde College of Commerce and Economics.

For fulfilling pre-autonomy conditions, three colleges have received a Rs 5 crore grant each — R A Poddar College of Commerce and Economics, College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, and Pratap College, Amalner.

A statement from the state government said that the colleges which form a part of the cluster university will utilize the funds step by step, whereas autonomous colleges that have received the grant can utilize it for improving the study, teaching, research courses and basic infrastructure of the college. From the funds sanctioned in the meeting, 60% funds will be given by RUSA and the rest will be given by the state government.

Principal secretary and state director for RUSA Meeta Rajivlochan said, “It is a wonderful step foward. Great leadership initiative has been shown by colleges in Maharastra and other parts.” A national conference on improving education standards will be hosted in the city in April, she added.