Rs. 100 CRORE FOR IMPROVING
S&T INFRASTRUCTURE IN 111 MORE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
The Department of
Science and Technology will fund to the tune of Rs.100 crore in
the next five years for improving the Science and Technology infrastructure
in another 238 departments of 111 universities and higher educational
Institutions. The support includes, improvement of basic facilities
for teaching and research, renovation of teaching laboratories,
animal house, green house etc. Books and Journals, creation of
Computer facility and networking as well as maintenance of equipment.
The Advisory Board
of the Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology Infrastructure
(FISTAB) at a meeting here recommended funding upto Rs.100 crore
after final scrutiny of the departments identified for support
by the expert committees, out of over 1000 proposals received.
The Government launched
the FIST programme taking into consideration the serious neglect
of support for research in universities due to lack of better
infrastructural and training facilities. Launching of FIST was
widely acclaimed by the Scientific Community and the aspirants.
As the response to the scheme was over-whelming, the Department
of Science and Technology supported over 200 departments in year
2000 with a total funding of Rs.110 crore. Taking into view the
success of the programme, the government has provided enhanced
funding of Rs.375 crore for the 10th five year plan.
This innovative initiative is expected to go a long way in fulfilling
the needs of the university system, as mode of research and generation
of high quality manpower is of great importance to the development
of the country.
