By Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Jan 29: “The BJP-led state administration has been granting more aid for education than any other department. It has been laying more emphasis on education by providing mid-day meals and uniforms to the students,” said state higher education minister Dr V S Acharya.

Dr Acharya was speaking after laying the foundation stone for constructing the government polytechnic girl’s hostel at Shivalli, near here, on Friday January 28 during a public meeting held at DIET Centre in Pragatinagar. The girl’s hostel will be built at a cost of Rs 1 crore under the union ministry of human resources department and state administration.

“Liberalization and globalization necessitated the development of national human resources to the optimum level, which would make India a stronger economic power in the near future,” he added.

“Nearly Rs 400 crore will be reserved for technical education in the coming budget. About Rs 4,400 crore was spent on education four years ago while in the current fiscal year Rs 10,500 crore is being utilized for this purpose,” said Dr Acharya.

“Forty-three government polytechnic and ten government engineering colleges were set up in the past two years. Meanwhile, the state administration has ambitious plans to get first place for the state in the entire country in the coming years,” he stressed.

Technical education department director H U Talwar presided over the programme.

Technical examination board secretary Anand Poojary, technical education assistant C D Ramalingayya, and college principal Renukaprasad were present on the occasion.

Technical education registrar Laxmisha Bhatkal compered the programme.