Indore:Tuesday, February 17 :Indore first city to have two high level National Institutes, Ladali Laxmi Act to be framed to promote girls education – C.M. Shri Chouhan. Union Minister for Human Resources Development Shri Arjun Singh laid that foundation stone for Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at a grand function here today. The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan presided over the function.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Arjun Singh said that the IIM and IIT at Indore would give a new direction to management and technical education not only in Madhya Pradesh but also in entire country. The Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that today is a historic day for Madhya Pradesh and a golden day for Indore city.
The Finance Minster Shri Raghavji, Minister for Information Technology Shri Kailash Vijaywargiya, Minister for Education Smt. Archana Chitnis, Member of Parliament Smt. Sumitra Mahajan were special guests on the occasion.
Shri Arjun Singh said that Madhya Pradesh is rich in natural resources and there is hardly any metal that is not available here. This is the social base for progress of any state in the modern age. He said that institutions like IIT provide guidance for speedier and all round progress. He said that the first Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was a great champion of scientific temper. It was his dream that institutions like IITs should come into existence in the country. Now his dream is taking a concrete shape.
Shri Arjun Singh said that the youths of India are shining at international level by virtue of their versatile talent and knowledge. In recent presidential elections in the USA the youths of Indian origin created history by participating in it. He informed that the present decade would see unprecedented expansion of education in the country.
The HRD Minister said that the IIT at Indore would commence in the next academic session. Till attaining maturity it would function under the guidance of IIT, Mumbai. He said that it is a pleasant surprise that there are 75 engineering colleges in Indore which would work as feeder colleges of the IIT. Shri Arjun Singh said that it has decided to set up 374 degree colleges in areas which lack higher education facilities and 39 of them would be set up in Madhya Pradesh. He informed that during the 11th Five Year Plan one thousand polytechnic colleges would be opened and each of them will get a grant of RS. 12 crore. Madhya Pradesh will also get its share in these colleges. He expressed happiness that Madhya Pradesh is no longer a BIMARU state.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed gratitude to Shri Arjun Singh for sanctioning IIM and IIT at Indore.Shri Chouhan said that education is the key to progress; hence the state government has given top priority to it. Earlier, there was an adverse general opinion about government schools but now it is a thing of past with students of government making it to the merit lists in the examinations. This is a tribute to the sincere efforts made by the state government for improving the quality of education over the years, he added.
The Chief Minister informed that free textbooks are being provided to all girl and boy students upto 12th standard in the state. He announced a Ladali Laxami Act would be framed in the state to bring into legal purview the all round development of girls including education. He said that a commission has been set up for development of the poor of general category. He assured that the state government would not be found wanting in discharging its share of responsibilities for the institutions set up by the centre in the state. He informed that 502 acre land has been provided for establishment of IIT at Indore with public cooperation.
The Chief Minister announced that the road to IIT at Talainaka, about 20 km from Indore would be made four-lane for smooth vehicular movement. He directed to immediately start the survey for this.
The Minister for Information Technology Shri Kailash Vijaywargiya said that the establishment of IIT at Indore would improve the quality of other technical institutions in the city. He said that even the poor have contributed to its establishment. The proposed land for this institution had houses and lands of the poor also. They voluntarily agreed to shit to other places. The state government is providing adequate compensation to them. He stressed the need for establishment of a science city in at a cost of Rs. 150 crore at Indore. He sought cooperation of the Ministry of Human Resources Development for this.
Member of Parliament Smt. Sumitra Mahajan said that Indore is a fast developing city and the IIM is doing well here. She said that the IIT would cater to the need of technical education in the city. She stressed the need for two more Kendriy Vidyalayas and a Central University in the city.
Secretary, HRD Shri R.P. Agrawal informed that the first B.Tech batch would commence in July 2009 at the IIT, Indore. An investment of Rs one thousand crore would be made in construction of this reputed institution. He said that higher education institutions would be provided Internet connectivity.
The Director of IIT, Mumbai Shri Devang Khakhar proposed a vote of thanks. Academics, public representatives and people in large number were present on the occasion.
It was informed on the occasion that Prof. Devant Khakhar would be the first Director of the IIT, Indore Till construction of its own building it would function on Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya’s engineering and technology institute’s premises. Admission to 40 students would be given in each subject. The departments of chemistry, mathematics, physics, humanities and social science would start functioning right from the beginning.