Thursday, November 15, 2007

Bihar – Always the Bride's Maid, Never the Bride

http://www.patnadaily.com/news2007/nov/111407/nine_new_polytechnique_colleges.html
(news on Patna Daily about opening IIT,IIM and an IISER in Bihar")
Patna: Nov. 14, 2007

After their continued resistance to the idea of opening an IIT, an IIM, and an IISER in Bihar despite growing demand for such schools in the state by the students and academic community, the Central government has given the green signal to open 9 poly-technique colleges in the region at the cost of Rs. 12 crore.

While the response to the Central Human Resources Ministry's to open poly-technique institutes in Bihar ranging from lukewarm to apathy, the state government, in letters to the District Magistrates, directed them to identify and mark 5 acres of lands in appropriate locations so the work could begin on their buildings without further delay.

The proposed nine colleges would be opened in East Champaran, West Champaran, Katihar, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhepura, Araria, Supaul, and Madhubani, state Science and Technology Minister Dr. Anil Kumar said adding the government would maintain control over the institutes.

While the Central government would pay for the construction of the buildings and the campuses, the state government would be responsible for running them on a daily basis and footing all the teaching and other expenses, Kumar said.

Meanwhile, the fate of an IIT, IIM, or an IISER in Bihar remains fuzzy at best and unlikely in the worst scenario given the Center's aversion to raise the standard of higher education in Bihar.

Friday, November 9, 2007

And Now a GOI Flying Institute for Maharashtra........

LONG-TERM MEASURES TO MEET THE SHORTAGE OF PILOTS: CONTRACTING OUT OF MANAGEMENT OF INDIRA GANDHI RASHTRIYA URAN AKADEMI AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FLYING TRAINING INSTITUTE AT GONDIA, MAHARASHTRA
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=32493
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for management contract agreement of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi with M/s. CAE Inc., Canada and also gave its approval for formation of a subsidiary company of Airports Authority of India for establishing a flying and aviation training institute at Gondia in Maharashtra as a Joint Venture Enterprise with M/s. CAE, Canada. The management for taking of IGRUA would be taken over by M/s. CAE Inc., Canada for better management of the Akademi in a more professional manner in order to produce 100 pilots per year. The subsidiary company of AAI will establish a flying and aviation training institute which will help in meeting the growing requirements of pilots and technical manpower relating to the aviation industry.

Where is the NIFT announced for Bihar ???

SETTING UP OF A NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION TECHNOLOGY (NIFT) CENTRE AT RAE BARELI
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=32491
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for setting up of a Centre of NIFT at Rae Bareli as a full-fledged Centre like seven other NIFT Centres already functioning in the country. The infrastructure and other facilities at the full-fledged Centre of NIFT, Rae Bareli would ease pressure on existing Delhi NIFT Centre and minimize the regional mismatch between the number of seats available and the number of applicants based on present locations of NIFT Centres. It would also meet the requirement of additional seats on account of implementation of OBC reservation as and when it is implemented. NIFT, Rae Bareli Centre would be first Centre to be set up in any backward areas of the country.