IGNTU To Encourage Higher Studies Among Tribals

New Delhi, Jun 15 (UNI) A university intended to encourage higher education among tribals in seven Indian states will be set up during the eleventh Five Year Plan, it was announced today.

Establishment of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh was approved by the Union Cabinet today, the announcement said.

The Cabinet also approved introduction of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill 2007 in Parliament, expected to be introduced in the monsoon session.

''It is all a part of promoting inclusiveness,'' an HRD Ministry official said.

To be centrally-funded, IGNTU's start-up cost is estimated at Rs 60 crore and recurring cost at Rs 12 crore a year, the Human Resource Development Ministry said in a statement.

It will cater to the ''specific educational needs'' of the tribal population in the predominantly tribal areas comprising parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

IGNTU is proposed to be established and incorporated as a teaching and affiliating university to facilitate and promote avenues of higher education and research for tribal population.

Although it will broadly be patterned after the existing Central Universities, IGNTU will have special provisions to accommodate its peculiar needs.

Among its goals is to promote studies and research in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, custom, medicinal systems, forest based economic activities, flora and fauna and advancements in relevant technologies.

Apart from affiliating colleges, IGNTU will be empowered to establish its own regional centres in tribal areas.

Each Regional Centre will have at least one school to serve as a model for neighbourhood schools, tribal students from which may join colleges or the University, an HRD Ministry statement said.

''As far as possible,'' the University management will be ''consistent with'' its special nature, ''with adequate number of members of the Court, Executive Council, Academic Council and the College Development Council or other bodies... earmarked for persons from amongst the Scheduled Tribes,'' it said.

''Similarly, the adequate number of seats in the matter of admission, of posts in the matter of employment, and other benefits shall be earmarked for the Scheduled Tribes.'' The appointment of the first officers during the transitional period and the constitution of the first Authorities of the University shall be made by the Central government on specified terms, the statement said.

The University would be funded by the HRD Ministry's Department of Higher Education through the University Grants Commission, like other Central Universities.

UNI