Special Education Zone in Bhopal

Bhopal, July 21 (UNI) While Special Economic Zone is coming up in different locations across the country, a Special Zone for Education is being proposed to be developed in Madhya Pradesh.

As part of efforts to develop Madhya Pradesh as an education hub, a Special Education Zone (SEdZ) is proposed to be set up in Bhopal to impart quality education with the participation of world class educational institutions.

Academics and promoters of various reputed educational institutions across the country, who took part in a day-long workshop here yesterday, reached a consensus for framing a policy on SEdZ within two or three months.

Revenue Principal Secretary Pukhraj Maru said 653 acre of land had been identified in Bhopal for the proposed SEdZ and, if required, more land would be made available. Though land cannot be provided free, the government was considering to give other concessions, he said.

''In case the proposed SEdZ is located outside the plan area, the rules of the plan area would be made applicable there'', Town and Country Planning Director Deepti Mukharji said.

''The aims of the SEdZ is to make a cluster of educational institutions to provide world level education to the students. This will help provide quality higher and technical education, attracting students not only from all parts of India, but also from other countries'', Technical Education Principal Secretary Raghav Chandra said.

The state government wanted to speed up setting up of the SEdZ as it would also help industries coming up in the state, Finance Principal Secretary Sumit Bose said.

Dr Rajendra Kothari of the Chamber of Commerce stressed on the importance of private sector participation in rapid development of higher and technical education. ''Availability of land at cheaper rates and suitable environment are encouraging factors''.

The workshop discussed various issues including availability of land, land use, regulatory framework for educational institutions and common infrastructure. They called for minimum regulation to facilitate a healthy competition among educational institutions.

Representatives from R C College- Bangalore, IILN-Delhi, Fortune Institute- Delhi, Thapar University-Gurgaon, Christ College-Bangalore, Sumaya Vidya Vihar-Mumbai, DPS-Delhi, ICAI-Hyderabad and other reputed institutions were among those who attended the workshop.

UNI