(a) whether the Government has any plan to set up rural universities in the various States especially in Odisha;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) the time by which these universities are likely to be established; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)
(a): No, Sir.
(b)&(c): In view of (a) above, do not arise.
(d): During the XI Plan, 15 Central Universities were established by the Central Government in the unserved States of
the country. The interests of rural areas were duly taken into account while setting up these universities. In Odisha,
the Central University was established in Koraput District. Under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) a Model Degree
College was planned to be set up in each of the identified Educationally Backward Districts (EBDs) of the Country,
where the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) was lower than the national average. Most of these EBDs are located in rural
areas. In Odisha out of the 18 such EBDs, 8 proposals from the State Government for setting up Model Degree Colleges
in Boudh, Deogarh, Malkangiri, Nayagarh, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sonepur districts have been received.