Proposal to set up the country's first "PIO University"

New Delhi, Jan 3: The proposal of the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry to set up the country's first "PIO University" has reached the final stages, but the task seems to be daunting in the light of some of the key issues raised by the Union Human Resources Development Ministry with regard to reservation of seats.

The Concept Paper, prepared by the OIA Ministry, evisages reservation of 50 per cent of the seats in the proposed university for the children of NRIs and PIOs since it is set up exclusively with the investment of the Indian diaspora.

But such reservation is not possible under the existing rules of the University Grants Commission (UGC) whose affiliation is required for the PIO University.

The HRD Ministry, Health Ministry and the Commerce Ministry had already sent their comments on the concept paper on the project to the OIA ministry.

The OIA Ministry seems to be not enthused over the stand of the HRD ministry, but hopes to overcome the hurdle by getting the Cabinet's clearance.

In fact, the PIO University proposal was originally mooted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who announced during in the last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in Hyderabad during January 7-9 this year. OIA Minister Vayalar Ravi is also "very serious" about the PIO University proposal and had rushed up the process.

''Now that the comments from these ministries have been received, the concept paper will be discussed by the Union Cabinet and suitable decision taken,'' an OIA Ministry official told UNI