January 11, 2002

    Technical education is to be upgraded and expanded in six North-Eastern States i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura besides Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This is being done at a cost of Rs. 329 crore and would be completed in five and a half years. This was disclosed by the Education Secretary Shri B.K. Chaturvedi while addressing a meeting of Chief Secretaries of these States here today. He said, Polytechnics in the region will be revamped to meet the requirements of the region especially the changed needs of the industry in the area. The programme being undertaken with World Bank loan assistance under project III will cover the states and union territories not included in the earlier two projects.

    Shri Chaturvedi said, the focus will be on rural areas and priority will be given for the technical education of women in the region. The project envisages creation of opportunities for over 8,000 students, targeting pass-outs from 10+2 grades, tribals, disadvantaged groups, the physically challenged and women. 10,000 persons will benefit through continuing education and non-formal training programmes. About eight to ten villages near each project-polytechnic will be served by community service activities. Six new co-educational polytechnics are to be started, two each in Sikkim and Meghalaya and one each in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. The existing 12 polytechnics will be strengthened and 19 new diploma and one post-diploma will be started to enchance the intake capacity. All existing curricula will be revised and a mechanism for continuos revision of curricula will be developed to meet the changing needs of the industry in the area. Additional Teachers and non- teaching staff would also be provided besides sending teachers for industrial training.

    Shri Chaturvedi pointed out that the project is expected to contribute to equity and balanced growth nation-wide. The pass-outs will be gainfully employed and requisite manpower will be available in new and emerging technologies to attract private sector investment in the region. There is also provision for computerisation, networking and other modern facilities, to bring remote regions close to the mainland and outside world.

    The centre has already implemented two externally funded technical education projects I & II covering 19 states and union territories. The main objectives of the projects were to expand the capacity of the polytechnics, improve the quality of polytechnic programmes and enhance the efficiency of management and operation of the polytechnics. Project-I was completed in 1998 with a total investment of Rs.977 crore covering 9 states. Project II in 1991 with an investment of Rs.892 core covering 10 states and union territories. These have resulted in increase in employment rate from 45 to 65 per cent and the enrolment of women in polytechnics from 11 to 28 per cent.