(a) whether the Model Degree Colleges (MDCs) in Aspirational Districts are being set
up under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan’
(RUSA); and
(b) if so, whether there is any proposal of the Ministry to provide assistance for faculty
support for at least five years and also to provide support for establishment of MDCs in
other backward districts of Odisha and more specifically in the Blocks?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)
(a) & (b): NITI Aayog has identified 117 districts as ‘Aspirational Districts’. These
districts have been selected on the basis of composite index which includes published
data of deprivation enumerated under Socio-Economic Caste Census, Health
&Nutrition, Education and Basic Infrastructure.
During the second phase of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya
Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), central assistance is provided for opening of new
Model Degree Colleges(MDCs) in ‘Aspirational Districts’ identified by NITI Aayog and
in unserved & underserved districts in North Eastern and Himalayan States. The
Project Approval Board (PAB) of RUSA has approved central support for one MDC
each in 70 such districts including 6 in Odisha.
An Expert Committee constituted by the University Grants Commission (UGC)
had identified 374 Educationally Backward Districts (EBDs) where Gross Enrolment
Ratio (GER) in higher education was less than the national average of 12.4% based on
2001 census data.
During the first phase of RUSA, central assistance to States has been provided
for creation of one Model Degree College each in 60 EBDs including 8 in Odisha.
The central support provided under the component of new MDCs is
infrastructural in nature in which funds are released for creation of Colleges with
requisite infrastructure such as appropriate number of class rooms, library, laboratory,
faculty rooms, toilet blocks and other essential requirements for technologically
advanced facilities. Further, under this component, a commitment is given by the State
Governments that all recurring expenditure (including salaries) in respect of the MDC
being established, will be borne by the respective State Government.
Additionally, under a separate component of RUSA viz., Faculty Recruitment
Support, central support is provided for creation of additional posts of Assistant
Professors subject to specific norms and approved period of the scheme (i.e. upto 31st
March 2020). Further, under this component, a commitment is required to be given by
the State Governments to take over liability of such faculty positions after 31st March
2020.
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