Necessary steps to be taken for IIT in Kerala: FM

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 23 (UNI) Kerala Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac today said necessary steps would be taken to set up an IIT in the state and the government had earmarked Rs one crore for developing basic infrastructure.

Presenting the revised state budget for 2006-07, he said Rs one crore was for buying land to set up the IIT and the government would further release money accordingly.

Mr Isaac added that Rs ten lakh had been set apart for preparing a project report for the proposed Medical University.

Noting there was need to improve educational standards, he said prominence would be given for imparting quality training to teachers and developing basic educational facilities in schools, where it was absent. The budget earmarked Rs five crore for this. With the IT boom in the state and all schools having IT as a subject, the government decided to allocate Rs ten crore for buying computers for schools. For improving educational facilities in Higher Secondary schools, he said the government would provide Rs 25 Lakh.

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