The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Amendment Bill to Central Universities Act to set up a Central university and a tribal university in Andhra Pradesh.
Moving the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for passage, HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said the Government has allotted Rs 450 crore for the central university and Rs 420 crore for the central tribal university. Currently these two universities are functioning in temporary facilities in Anantpur and Vijayanagaram respectively.
HRD Minister said the Modi Government has given Andhra Pradesh two universities and seven institutions of importance. Stating that at present the education department has a budget of Rs 1.25 lakh crore, he said the Government is moving at a fast pace in the area of education. It has put the education sector under focus to ensure all round development, he said.
According to the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the two universities will increase access and quality of higher education and also promote avenues of higher education for the people of the state. The Tribal University will provide instructional and research facilities in tribal art, culture and customs and advancement in technology to the tribal population of India. At present, there is no central university in Andhra Pradesh while other States, except
Goa, have one or more such institution.
Setting up a central university and a central tribal university in Andhra Pradesh is obligatory under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 for creation of Telangana.
Participating in the discussion, K Suresh (Cong) said that the bill has not mentioned about detailed funding mechanism and funding of universities have remained an issue in the country. There is also no mention about curriculum and administration of these two universities in the bill, he said. He added that it was also not mentioned whether tribals would get reservation in the central tribal university.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP) took a swipe at the TDP for questioning the intentions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.