Rs 100-cr Central grant proved boon for Himachal Pradesh University
The Rs 100-crore grant allocated by the Central Government to Himachal Pradesh University under the Prime Minister Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme proved a boon to the university, as the funds were being used by the university administration to develop new infrastructure and improve the quality of education.
The university, which had been facing issued due to the lack of infrastructure, planned to use the funds to construct buildings to house various departments.
A building is currently being constructed as part of the university’s infrastructure.
Dean of Studies BK Shivram said the university had greatly benefited from receiving the Central grant.
The grant was being used for the betterment of the university, he added.
“Efforts are also being made to focus on research and revenue generation from the project and consultancy,” he added.
This year, the university also laid emphasis on digitising its existing infrastructure, turning most of its classes into smart classes.
A digital library has also been proposed, and will be made available to students soon. The university also introduced 20 add-on courses on an array of subjects, including foreign language courses.
Shivram said the university was working towards implementing the New Education Policy (NEP)-2020.
The university also enhanced its security in the department building and hostels this year, installing 147 surveillance cameras.
However, it is pertinent to note that the step came after a student died after he fell from a hostel building in September. This year ended on a high note for the student bodies of the university — such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Students Federation of India (SFI) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) — as authorities said they would take into consideration lifting the decade-long ban on student body elections.
Earlier this year, during two-day Maitree programme organised by the Himachal Pradesh University Alumni Association (Decadal Chapter of 90s), Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had said the state government would explore the possibility of conducting student body elections.
Established on July 22, 1970, Himachal Pradesh University is the only multi-faculty residential and affiliating university in the state that provides higher education to urban, rural and tribal areas through formal and distant modes.
Located at the picturesque Summer Hill in Shimla, the university has a total area of 241.11 bighas with stately buildings set among rhododendron, silver oak, pine and deodar trees.
