Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday formally dedicated the second University of Himachal Pradesh at Mandi by inaugurating two blocks of the University constructed by spending an amount of Rs. 16.18 crore. Over 141 government and private colleges of Mandi, Kangra, Chamba, Lahaul Spiti and Kullu districts have been included under this State University named Sardar Patel University, Mandi.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony , Thakur announced that College and University teachers would be provided revised UGC scales and notification in this respect would be issued within a month. He said that this day would go down in the annals of the State as a golden moment that second Government State University has come into existence in the State after 52 years to enable the youth of the State to get higher education nearer to their area. He said that after the formation of Himachal Pradesh, the first State University was established in Shimla on 22 July 1970.
He said that students coming from far flung areas of the State would be benefited by the establishment of a new University in Mandi since the area was in the middle of Himachal, students of five districts would now need not have to travel to Shimla for college-university related work. He said that having two universities would also increase PG seats and students would be able to take admission easily for higher education and the burden of Himachal Pradesh University Shimla would also be reduced.