HRD Minister bats for public-pvt tie-up in health,edu sectors

Batting for public-private partnership in health and education sectors, Union HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju today said such collaboration could help overcome resource constraints in public sector.
"Resource constraints in public sector can be overcome by collaborating with the private sector and this will foster a partnership for providing better health services to the underserved sections of the population," he said.
In his address at the 17th Convocation of Sri Ramachandra University, a medical varsity here, he said 'deficiencies' in public sector health care could be overcome by appropriate significant reforms and partnership with private sector which, he said, has emerged as a new avenue.

He said UPA's National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) had among others, brought down infant mortality rate and increased the institutional deliveries and immunization coverage in the 11th five year plan.
"In order to achieve significant progress in the implementation of NRHM and in higher education, the private sector needs to play a pro-active role. No doubt that the government has to facilitate an incentivising mechanism to involve private sector participation to promote higher education and NRHM by innovative methodologies," he added.
Holding that Government of India had taken a policy decision of developing PPP models in all these activities, he expressed hope that they attract more private participation during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17).

Later, speaking to reporters, he said the thrust of the higher education system in 12th plan has been access, equity and excellence.
"We want to ensure quality faculty and research as that is the only way to ensure that these institutions grow to global standards which is the requirement of the day," he said about universities, especially deemed varsities.
He also urged educational institutions to adopt "best practices" to ensure quality.