'Sanction IIT for state' demands Karnataka

New Delhi, Jul 24 (UNI) Karnataka Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali today urged Union Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh to sanction an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) for Karnataka in aiding the students of the state acquire quality engineering education.

Taking part in the two-day conference of Higher Education Ministers convened by the HRD Ministry, Mr Limbavali said the state had been demanding IIT to be established in the state but the recent announcement had belied the hopes of the people of the state.

The minister also outlined the steps like starting eight engineering colleges and 21 polytechnics by the government to help the merit holders cum poor students get into professional courses.

The state was encouraging public private partnership for development of infrastructure in rural government colleges.

The state was, however, happy that the Centre had sanctioned a Central University at Gulbarga and a World Class University at Mysore, Mr Limbavali told newspersons here.

The Minister also told Mr Singh about Karnataka providing subsidy on student loans taking up professional courses to ensure that they get loans at six per cent interest and the state had established Knowledge and Higher Education Commission in the state on the lines of Knowledge Commission at the Centre.

He also talked about recruitment on 2,550 posts of lecturers and 450 administration staff in various Universities.

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