The World Bank (WB) would lend Rs 1,020 crore to the Odisha Government for a period of five years for improvement in the higher education sector.
The WB authorities agreed to lend 170 US Dollars after being convinced by a team of officers led by Higher Education ACS GVV Sarma in the presence of officers of the Ministry of Human Resources Development at a consultation held at New Delhi on Tuesday.
The funds, to come under the WB’s ‘Programme for Results’ would be utilised for substantial improvement in as many as 140 colleges and some selected universities in the areas of physical infrastructure, capacity building, examination reforms and skill development, said sources.
World Bank Country Director for India Junaid Kamal Ahmed supported the Odisha proposal, which is stated to be the first of its kind submitted by the Higher Education Department before the WB.
The Government had asked for over Rs 1,020 crore for Higher Education Programme for Excellence and Equity (OHEPEE) from the WB as the funding under Centrally-sponsored Rashtriya Uchhatar Shikshya Abhiyan (RUSA) for improvement of higher education sector was not sufficient, officials said.
Now, the State would be able to implemen OHEPEE for improving students’ equitable access to higher education and quality with the World Bank support, they added.
The State Government will establish Institutional Developmental Plan (IDP) and Capacity Building Steering Committee, which will be responsible for carrying out hands-on training and capacity building to support the colleges in drafting their IDP.