State yet to avail RUSA benefits

SHILLONG/TURA: Meghalaya is yet to avail a Central project started in 2013 meant to fund higher educational institutions even as a Central education official associated with the scheme was willing to wait  till January to get feedback from the state
This has come to light when a delegation of some pressure groups from Garo Hills met V S Oberoi, Secretary of  the Higher Education Department on December 15.
The delegation met Oberoi to demand establishment of specialised colleges and institutions in Garo Hills.
During the meeting, Oberoi referred to the Centrally-sponsored scheme  Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abiyan (RUSA) saying that Meghalaya was yet to initiate any project under the scheme.
The official further informed that RUSA was launched in 2013 with the aim of providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational Institutions.
“The process of funding will be from the Central Ministry through the State Government to the State Higher Education Council which will reach the identified institutions. The basis of the funding will be based on the critical appraisal of the State Higher Education Plan. We can wait till January for projects to reach us and will be happy to get proposals from Meghalaya,” the pressure groups quoted the official as saying.