Nineteen government colleges, which have completed Golden Jubilee and Platinum Jubilee years, are set to equip themselves with improved infrastructure, even as the government is releasing financial aid to them very soon.
The process of improving the quality of higher education is on a fast-track and therefore the Department of Collegiate Education has selected these colleges for the “hirime garime” scheme.
Six colleges in Bengaluru, two each in Mysuru, Hassan and Kolar, and one each in Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Chitradurga, Chikmagalur and Kalaburagi districts have been selected under the scheme.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had sanctioned Rs. 10 crore for the “hirime harime’ scheme in his 2015-16 budget.
The department has released Rs. 25 lakh each to seven colleges that have completed 50 years, and Rs. 20 lakh each to 12 colleges that were established at least 75 years ago, to upgrade their infrastructure, a senior official of the department said.
Speaking to The Hindu over phone on Wednesday, the official said that the selected institutions had carved a niche in the annals of education by providing quality education to lakhs of students over the last five decades or more.
“We have asked the principals of these colleges to provide the most essential facilities to students by utilising the funds. Soon, we will finalise the second list,” he said.
The institutions have been asked to provide facilities such as drinking water, electricity, toilets, laboratory equipment, computers, electronic accessories, audio-visual material, books and furniture, among others. However, the colleges should abide by the conditions of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act and submit utilisation certificates, he said.Of the selected colleges, Maharani Government Arts, Commerce and Management College; Government Arts College on Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi, Government Science College on Nrupatunga Road and Maharani Science College for Women on Palace Road (all in Bengaluru); Maharani Arts College for Women and Maharani Science College for Women on JLB Road in Mysuru and Government College on Sedam Road in Kalaburagi have completed platinum jubilee.The colleges which have completed golden jubilee are: Government RC Commerce and Management College, Bengaluru; Smt. VHD Central Institute of Home Science, Bengaluru; Government College for Boys, Chintamani in Kolar district; Government College for Boys, Kolar; Sri Mahadeshwara Government First Grade College, Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district; Government College, Mandya; Government Science College, Hassan; Government First Grade College, Konanuru in Kodagu district; Government Science College, Chitradurga; IDSG First Grade College, Chikmagaluru; Government Arts and Science College, Karwar; and Government Arts College, Hassan.
Grants have been sanctioned under the ‘hirime-garime’ scheme
Seven colleges, which have completed 50 years will get Rs. 25 lakh each
12 colleges established at least 75 years ago to be given Rs. 20 lakh each
Principals of recipient colleges told to utilise funds for providing essential facilities to students
