MP poised to become educational hub : CM

Bhopal, Oct 8 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the state would be developed as an educational hub in the country as the state government with the assistance from Centre was trying to promote higher education in a big way.

Speaking at a function to mark the laying of foundation stones of two educational institutions-- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA)- at Bhaunri near here along with Union Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh, the Chief Minsiter said ''The BJP-led government is very sincere about imparting education in the state as education is the answer to usher in development despite growing population.'' After enactment of the legislation to start private universities in the state, He said the government had signed 19 memoranda of understanding. Prestigious institutes like Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Technology and Manipal University were coming up in the state, he said.

He also advocated the contribution from the private sector in the field of education. ''Apart from the contribution of state and the Centre, the private sector should also come forward to elevate the state as an educational hub'', Mr Chouhan said.

Mr Chouhan also stressed the need for women's education, saying that the government was not overlooking the women's education as it introduced 'Gaon ki Beti yojna', which had a provision of giving annual stipend of Rs 5,000 to those girls who scored more than 60 percent marks.

He also emphasised on technical education ''We have to see that our education system should not be confined to a 'clerk-making' system but it should produce scientists and technocrats.'' The Chief Minister praised the Centre for granting Central University status to Dr Hari Singh Gaur University at Sagar and setting up the country's first National Tribal University at Amarkantak in the state.

''There should not be any discrimination on political lines irrespective of different parties ruling at the Centre and in the states'', he said.

Earlier, Commercial Taxes Minister Babulal Gaur admitted that Madhya Pradesh was lagging behind in education in the national perspective.

He requested Mr Arjun Singh to persuade the Centre to transfer 2500 acre land in Bhopal from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited to the state government.

UNI BDG SP 1453