Question : HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES IN NORTH EASTERN STATES

(a) whether the Government is aware of the acute shortage of Higher and Technical Educational Institutes in North-Eastern States;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the talented students are migrating to other States as a result thereof;

(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to open more technical institutes, as well as colleges, with new courses, in the North Eastern States; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) & (b): As per Statistics of Higher & Technical Education 2009-10 (Provisional), there are 955 higher educational institutions, including 24 Polytechnics, in the North Eastern Region.

(c) to (e) : The data on migrating of students to other states is not centrally maintained in the Ministry. Students from North Eastern states have the option to pursue higher education in other States of the country. It is not clear that they do so because the required facilities are not available in the North Eastern States. In order to increase the access to higher and technical education in North Eastern Region, the following new major initiatives have been taken during the 11th Five Year Plan :
(i) Six new National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong were established and Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar was upgraded upto degree courses.
(ii) A scheme of 374 new Model Degree Colleges has been launched all over the country one each in such district, which has Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) below the national average. Out of these, 44 colleges are earmarked for North-Eastern Region against which, 18 have so far been sanctioned.
(iii) Under the Scheme of “Sub-mission on Polytechnics under coordinated Action for Skill Development”, in North Eastern States, 66 districts are eligible for receiving the grants for setting up of new polytechnics. Out of these 66 districts, 52 districts have been provided partial financial assistance of Rs.187.48 crores.
(iv) The All India council for Technical Education (AICTE) has allowed the approved technical institutions to expand its activities by adding additional programmes/courses/ divisions, in the existing technical institutions and also allowed them to opt for an additional programme/course/division in 2nd shift or for a separate technical institution in the existing technical institutions in 2nd shift. The AICTE has also permitted the technical institutions to open separate division in 2nd year of Engineering/Technology courses for admitting Diploma and B.Sc. Degree holders through Lateral Entry Scheme.
(v) Under the scheme of “Reservation of seats in Engineering/Technology/ Architecture/Pharmacy courses conducted at Degree and Diploma level technical institutions approved by AICTE”, during the year 2011-12, 1120 seats were allocated at Degree/Diploma level courses for the students belonging to the North Eastern States.