In a unique feat of its kind, the Union Minister for Human Resources Development Smriti Irani and Punjab Minister for School Education and languages Surjit Singh Rakhra on Friday inaugurated a boys’ hostel at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, under Rashtriya Uchchtam Sikhya Abhiyan (RUSA) at a cost of Rs144 crore.
The unique aspect was that both the dignitaries did the honours through digital technique as a part of Centre’s digital functions from New Delhi and NIC office at Punjab Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, respectively withm the pressing of a button.Another significant feature was holding of 10 such similar digital inaugurations by RUSA in 10 states simultaneously.Smriti Irani, in a chat with GNDU students via video conferencing, lauded the meritorious schools initiative of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal which has been successfully catering to the need of free education of meritorious students of the government schools.
Rakhra apprised the Union Minister of the projects being carried out by Punjab Government in the Higher Education sector and invited her for the inauguration of 11 degree and two professional colleges in the state which are nearing completion, which she graciously accepted.
The novel feature of today’s functions was that along with Punjab, 10 digital inaugurations and foundation stone laying functions were held in Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim and Mizoram.The Union Minister also interacted with the Higher Education ministers of these states via video conferencing with students from each state posing queries to her.
Irani said that she has plans in the skill development sector with regardto meritorious students from Punjab. Earlier, Rakhra apprised her that a total of Rs 69.73 crore are being spent in Punjab on higher education under RUSA.