The Centre’s plan to imp-rove gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education has hit a roadblock. The HRD ministry’s proposal to establish 374 degree colleges in districts having low GER has failed to take off as only 23 such colleges have been set up so far.
Sources said the future prospects of the scheme are also bleak as the establishment of only 26 more such colleges is in the offing in the near future. “The delay in the scheme has been largely due to the fact that several state governments have been unable to submit proposals for the establishment of these degree colleges in the districts having low GER in their respective regions,” official sources stated.
The Union Cabinet had approved the scheme in January 2010 with an objective to enhance the access to degree courses in educationally backward districts of the country. However, sources said the delay in submission of proposals by state governments mean that the establishment of these colleges will be delayed by at least a couple of years. As a part of the scheme, the government had proposed to set up 374 degree colleges in the districts having GER lower than the national average identified by the UGC.
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CBI forms SIT to look into CAG report on CWG
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, Aug. 28
The CBI has constituted a special investigation team to probe fresh cases related to alleged irregularities committed in awarding CWG contracts.
According to sources, the SIT will be headed by the agency’s joint director (administration). Besides, a DIG and two SPs of the CBI will be part of the SIT, sources said. Now all fresh cases, including “preliminary enquiries” (PEs), will be investigated by the SIT only, sources added. The agency has registered total 14 cases so far. It was first reported by this newspaper that the agency was planning to constitute a SIT to investigate fresh CWG cases.
“The agency is all set to register at least 10 more FIRs based on the findings of the CAG’s report on the CWG recently tabled in the Parliament. The agency is likely to register fresh cases in connection with alleged irregularities in awarding contracts related to ticket sales, catering and projects awarded by government agencies, including the Delhi government,” sources said.