From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 21: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed release of Rs 230 crore for distribution of laptops to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students of universities in the State.

All the universities coming under the purview of the State Government were asked to ensure that laptops should be distributed to the SC/ST students by utilizing Rs 230 core under the SC/ST Tribal Sub Plan funds.

The Chief Minister gave a telephonic direction to the Social Welfare Department Principal Secretary P Manivannan at a meeting of University Vice Chancellors and Senior officials of the Higher Education Department in held in Vidhana Soudha on Monday.

The Chief Minister told the meeting that the State Government is committed to distributing laptops to all University students and necessary steps will be taken in this regard soon.

The University Vice Chancellors apprised the Chief Minister that necessary funds must be released to clear the salaries of guest lecturers. In addition to the allocation of Rs 5,470 crore for the Higher Education Department in the current year’s annual budget, there was need for additional funds to the tune of Rs 2,474 crore.

Siddaramaiah asked the Visvesvaraya Technical University to revamp its syllabus to suit the needs of the industry and prepare the engineering students for better job opportunities.

The students coming out of the universities must be imbued with the scientific temper and rational thinking as the students steeped in superstition would not help the society. The universities must help shape the future and minds as well as attitudes to suit the needs of the country to lead it scientifically and achieve economic progress.

As many as 32 Vice Chancellors in the State and senior government officials attended the meeting.