Assam: IIT-Guwahati hails Budget announcements on higher education, start-ups

GUWAHATI:

The Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) has welcomed the Union Budget announcements on higher education, international collaborations, clean energy, healthcare sector and start-up initiatives.

“The setting up of a Higher Education Commission for the accreditation and regular funding of colleges and universities for having better synergy is a great initiative to enhance cooperation among the academic institutes and provide access to every deserving student to have the best possible education tools,” IIT-G director Prof T.G Sitharam said on Tuesday.

“Further, the outlay of Rs 50,000 crore over five years announced for the National Research Foundation will boost research and development. Maintenance of a research ecosystem through international collaborations, especially the tie-up with Japan for sharing of technology and knowledge, will allow India to progress in multidisciplinary areas rapidly,” Sitharam said.

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“The core strength of IIT Guwahati lies in quality higher education and research and development. The faculty members have risen to the occasion during the pandemic, and the institute delivered several COVID-19 related products in a very short time,” he said.

The Union Finance Minister had also announced the Hydrogen Energy Mission in the Budget for generating hydrogen out of green-powered sources to give a further boost to the non-conventional energy sector and proposed to provide an additional capital infusion of Rs 1,000 crore to the Solar Energy Corporation of India and Rs 1,500 crore to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency.

“Several faculty members of IIT-G have been making valuable contributions to these areas, and these announcements will provide a thrust to the national drive for clean and renewable energy devices and technology,” Sitharam said.

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He also stated that the investment promise of over Rs 3,000 crore for re-aligning the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme would help in providing trained staff to the industry sector.

“The efforts of IIT Guwahati are also likely to benefit from the announcement on the start-ups and innovation initiatives. The Research Park at IIT-G has already been actively promoting start-ups from alumni, students, faculty and entrepreneurs, and this initiative will surely boost our efforts,” he said.

The hike in allocation to the health sector by whopping 137 per cent is a welcome move as well, he added.

(Edited by Ladiangti Rani)

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