Cabinet to consider proposal for 374 degree colleges tomorrow

Updated on: Thursday, January 21, 2010

New Delhi: A proposal for setting up model colleges in 374 educationally backward districts of the country is likely to come before the Cabinet tomorrow.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in 2007 announced starting such colleges in those districts where the gross enrolment ratio in higher education is less than the national average of 12.4 per cent.
   
The government wants to set up 200 such colleges in the first phase during the remaining period of the 11th Plan. The scheme would cost Rs 782 crore to the government during the 11th Plan.
   
The Expenditure Finance Committee has cleared the scheme. About 90 colleges would be set up in minority concentrated districts.
   
Each college will cost Rs eight crore for establishment. The Centre will provide Rs 2.67 crore, while the states will bear the rest of the cost.
   
The states will have to submit undertakings regarding their readiness to bear the two-thirds cost after which their proposals will be considered.

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