CM largesse for students now

By Muslim Saleem

Bhopal, January 15, 2012

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been interacting with various sections of society for knowing their difficulties and problems and redressing them on the spot. Recently, the student section was also given ample opportunity to air their difficulties and themselves suggest what they want for redressal and improvement of higher education during a direct interaction with the Chief Minister at his residence. Mr Chouhan did not disappoint them and showered a plethora of gifts  on them, reports SMS News & Features.

The Chief announced constitution of Regulatory authority for coaching institutions, Youth Commission, an Education corpus for Rs 50 crore, separate directorate for agriculture education and preparing baseline for upgradation of higher education in Madhya Pradesh at the 'Vidyarthi Panchayat' organised on Thursday in Bhopal.

Addressing a gathering of 1500 students of different streams and places at his residence, Chouhan heard students' complaints and suggestions said his government would take action on all fruitful suggestions and genuine complaints and they would become part of the governments policy. He heard students for over three hours in the Convention. The chief minister dwelt on many of the issues at once and made on- the- spot announcements.

He said, youth commission which is in the pipeline, will take shape within a couple of days. It would study issues related with students, youths, sports and culture. The government will consider the Commissions recommendations in policy formation. Announcing formation of education corpus for welfare of students, he said the corpus would start with Rs 50 crore and if needed, the government will provide more fund.

On the issue of semester pattern and problems pointed out by majority of students, Chouhan said more reforms would be made in the present system. Expressing concern on increasing cost of education in private sector, he said more steps are needed to reduce the cost. The government will approach to the centre for interest free loan to families with annual income up to Rs 4.5 lakh and 50 per cent subsidy in interest to family with Rs seven lakh annual income. Chouhan said, the state government will bear the burden of the subsidy.

Besides, present education loan guarantee scheme will be simplified for providing benefits to students. For girls' security and safety, Chouhan said, women development cells will be set up in all colleges to deal with cases related with security issues. On agriculture students' demand, he announced to make five per cent admission quota for farmers' children in agriculture colleges.

Finishing schools for technical students, automation of examination process, rise in scholarship and stipend to veterinary students equal to medical students, rise in scholarship to Sanskrit students, gymnasium in medical colleges are among various other announcements chief minister Chouhan made in the convention. Higher and technical education minister Laxmikant Sharma said Swami Vivekananda 150th birthday will be celebrated at grand level in Madhya Pradesh. In recent year, path breaking changes have taken place in higher and technical education with gross enrollment ratio reaching from 10.39 to 16.89. It is expected to reach 18 till next year.