After PM146;s rap, sops for Modi

With Assembly polls on the cards, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi came shopping for Central funds to support a few vote-catching schemes in his sta...

With Assembly polls on the cards, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi came shopping for Central funds to support a few vote-catching schemes in his state. And HRD and Science and Technology Minister Murli Manohar Joshi did not disappoint him.

Modi got an immediate nod for a Centrally-funded scheme to enhance female literacy and also bagged a Rs 140-crore mega-project for setting a National Seismological Institute in Ahmedabad.

8216;8216;Modi came with one good scheme for educationally-backward villages in the state where female literacy is low and we have sanctioned it,8217;8217; Joshi said.

Explaining the scheme, he said, bonds of Rs 1,000 would be given to parents of girl children the day they get enrolled in Class I. The bond will continue till the girl completes Class VII. But it could be gather more interest if she continued her studies. However, if the girl did not complete her eighth standard, the money would not be given to her.

8216;8216;The Centre would help the scheme in other states, if they are interested to implement the Gujarat idea in areas where female literacy is low. It would give a tremendous boost to female literacy,8217;8217; Joshi said.

Other the Rs 140-crore project that Modi got on a platter is the National Seismological Institute. 8216;8216;It would be Centrally-funded. The Gujarat Government wanted to set it up in Bhuj, but we said it has to be in Ahmedabad and they have agreed to give us land,8217;8217; Joshi said.

The institute, for which the country is getting planning and help from both Russia and the US, would be devoted to research on quakes.

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8216;8216;We want to create a world-class institute with sophisticated instruments. In this bid, the government is having talks with the countries like Russia and the US, which already have such institutes,8217;8217; Joshi said. Work on the institute will start soon. 8216;8216;The project will cost about Rs 140 crore. we discussed a quick implementation plan with Modi,8217;8217; he said.

Modi also discussed the delay in setting up of an engineering college in the state with Joshi, who said he has asked the AICTE to take up the matter. Joshi said the government has decided to introduce seismic studies as a compulsory subject in engineering courses in the country. 8216;8216;Roorkee University had drafted the syllabus for the purpose.It would cost Rs 15 crore,8217;8217; he said.