States submit proposals for setting up degree colleges

Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are among the leading states which have taken advantage of the Central scheme for setting up model degree colleges in educationally-backward districts.

These states have submitted detailed proposals to the University Grants Commission (UGC), the agency for implementing the scheme, and expressed readiness to contribute their share for establishment of these colleges. As per the scheme, each college, which will be a model institution with advanced facilities, will cost Rs eight crore for establishment. The Centre will provide Rs 2.67 crore, while the states will bear the rest of the cost.

The states will have to submit undertakings before the UGC regarding their readiness to bear the two-third cost after which their proposals will be considered. "Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and certain Northeastern states have said that they are ready to submit the undertakings. So these states are in advance stage in setting up the institutions," UGC Chairman Prof Sukhadeo Thorat told PTI.