Consider 370 colleges for GIA: Panel

BHUBANESWAR: After two-day deliberations on the modes for providing axis grant to private colleges, the Cabinet sub-committee on Higher Education have recommended the State Cabinet to see the lawsuit of 370 eligible colleges.Of the 630 colleges waiting for grant-in-aid, the lawsuit of 370 colleges was considered as they fulfilled the criteria for getting the grant till June 1, 2002. While 268 are junior colleges, the remaining 102 are grade colleges.The sub-committee have additional suggested to see the lawsuit of 10 Sanskritic Language colleges offering Shastri grade and 28 pre- 1994 let-out colleges for consideration of axis grant.Nearly 153 talks of 114 private colleges are deprived of Government grant although these colleges are covered under GIA while the other instruction staff are enjoying the benefits.The sub-committee meeting chaired by Rural Development Curate BB shot Harichandan also recommended regularization of services of about 1,200 college instructors who fulfilled the statuses of Orissa Education (Amendment) Act, 1994 and the regulations thereafter to supply GIA.As the sub-committee meeting on Wednesday remained inconclusive, it met here on Thursday.Describing the meeting as meaningless, secretary full general of Sikhyak Mahasangh Abani Baral said the Government cannot supply any grant to colleges unless they frame in fresh regulations under the Orissa Education (Amendment) Act, 1994.The BJD-BJP Government had repealed the regulations framed under the 1994 Act for providing GIA to Asset Two and grade colleges on February 5, 2004. It have to frame in regulations under the Act afresh for giving GIA to private colleges before taking any decision. The Government is trying to befool the private college teachers, he said.The panel also considered the lawsuit of five blocks where not a single college exists. There are private colleges in 96 blocks but none have Government aid.The sub-committee recommended the Government to see the lawsuit of these blocks on precedence basis.Finance, Higher Education and ST/SC Development Ministers Prafulla Ghadei, Samir Dey and Chaitanya Prasad Majhi respectively are the other members of the subcommittee.