Union govt approves ₹670 crore for PM-USHA implementation in Odisha

Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) implementation in Odisha has been approved by the Union government with a budget of ₹670 crore.

In addition, the state has been granted an extra 1%, or ₹6.7 crore, through the Management Monitoring Evaluation and Research (MMER) grant.

Suryabanshi Suraj, the minister of higher education for Odisha, made the announcement.

About 40% of the total grant, or ₹268 crore, would come from the state, while ₹408.7 crore will come from the center.

The minister added that the PM-USHA initiative will provide ₹676.7 crore to the state's higher education institutions.

The PM-USHA program is divided into four components: multi-disciplinary education and research universities (MERU), funding to boost universities and colleges (accredited and unaccredited), and gender inclusion and equality initiatives (GIEI).

Funds supplied under the PM-USHA scheme will be utilized to refurbish classrooms, libraries, and hostel rooms in the state's educational institutions, as well as to increase accessibility for differently abled students and to purchase innovative laboratory equipment.

Four universities, Ravenshaw University in Cuttack, Berhampur University in Ganjam, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Mayurbhanj, and Sambalpur University in Odisha, will each receive ₹100 crore under the MERU category to improve their infrastructure, education, and research facilities.

Vikram Deb Autonomous College (university) in Koraput, Rajendra University in Balangir, Kalahandi University in Kalahandi, Odisha State Open University, and Gangadhar Meher University in Sambalpur are among the five districts of Odisha that have received grants totaling ₹20 crore each under the grants to strengthen universities category.

The districts of Bhadrak, Kandhamal, Nabaranagpur, Mayurbhanj, and Sambalpur will each receive ₹10 crore under the GIEI to promote the enrollment of women and other marginalized groups in higher education by organizing workshops for skill development for self-employment, implementing self-defense training programs, etc.

Up to 24 colleges across various regions would receive ₹5 crore each as part of the subsidies intended to bolster the college sector.