The Higher Education Department has proposed to invest around ₹65 crore to develop research facilities in Anna University. The Department’s budget is focused on improving infrastructure, including hostel and research facilities, in government colleges.
Anna University will receive ₹50 crore to establish a research park to be used for industry-related research and incubation centres to benefit around 20,000 students of undergraduate, postgraduate and engineering research, Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy announced in the Assembly on Monday, in response to demands from MLAs.
The university will receive another ₹10 crore to establish 11 centres for research with industrial support from TIDCO and SIPCOT. There was a proposal to introduce industry skills-based courses for students of the university at a cost of ₹5 crore, the Minister said.
The Department has also proposed to start 10 new arts and science colleges in the coming academic year, at a cost of ₹165.50 crore. “We are planning to set up 10 new arts and science colleges, as we did last year,” he said. New colleges are coming up in Manapparai, Chenjee, Thali, Tirumaiyam, Andhiyur, Aravakurichi, Tirukattupalli, Reddiyarchathiram, Vadalur and Sriperumbudur, he said. The new colleges would be required in the light of the State government’s announcement that girl students would receive ₹1,000 per month as an incentive to pursue higher education.
Earlier, several members, including former School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, questioned how the government had calculated that six lakh girls would benefit from the scheme when only two lakh students were expected to join colleges as per the scheme.
Mr. Ponmudy explained that the government had included first-, second- and third-year students for the purpose.
The Department has allocated funds to construct buildings for the 10 new colleges launched in 2021-22. Further, ₹1,000 crore has been allocated to upgrade the infrastructure in 55 government arts and science colleges and 26 government technical institutions.
A sum of ₹100 crore has been allocated to modernise laboratories and libraries in government colleges. A total of ₹130 crore has been allocated to build hostel facilities in government colleges, including at Anna University’s Guindy campus and the Marina campus of the University of Madras.
The Department has permitted the lateral entry of candidates who have completed their diploma in engineering courses in Anna University’s departments, namely the College of Engineering, Guindy; the Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet; and Alagappa College of Technology, Guindy.
