TFP Bureau, Raipur; February 21, 2024: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) today, marking a significant milestone in educational reform. Participating virtually from Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Higher Education Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Brijmohan Agarwal, lauded this initiative as a major boon for the state’s education sector.
Under the PM-USHA scheme, Chhattisgarh has received substantial funding allocations. Notably, Bastar University has been granted Rs 100 crore, while Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University in Raipur and Atal Bihari Vajpayee University in Bilaspur each received Rs 20 crore. Additionally, two colleges were awarded Rs 5 crore each. Minister Aggarwal emphasized the importance of enhancing higher education to achieve the vision of Developed India 2047, as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020.
Replacing the erstwhile RUSA scheme, PM-USHA aims to provide financial assistance to colleges and universities offering higher education. The digital launch of approved projects under PM-USHA was conducted by the Honorable Prime Minister via video conferencing. The scheme encompasses five components, aiming to foster equality, access, and excellence in government universities and colleges.
In the first phase, grants have been approved for universities in Chhattisgarh. Shaheed Mahendra Karma University in Jagdalpur received Rs 100 crore under the Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU) component. Meanwhile, Atal Bihari Vajpayee University in Bilaspur and Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University in Raipur were granted Rs 20 crore each under the Grants to Strengthen Universities (GSU) component.
The funding for Bastar University will facilitate new construction projects and equip existing facilities with modern amenities, including laboratories and smart classrooms. Furthermore, plans are underway to introduce 33 new undergraduate and postgraduate courses across 20 departments in Bastar, aligned with the National Education Policy-2020 parameters.
The allocated funds will also support infrastructure enhancements and academic expansion at Raipur and Bilaspur universities. Notable developments include the establishment of the School of Commerce Studies and the introduction of Forensic Science programs at Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University, Raipur. The state government has significantly increased the annual grant budgets for both Raipur and Bilaspur universities, reflecting its commitment to fostering academic excellence and infrastructure development in higher education.
