Solar power target: 200 mw in 5 years

In a bid to comply with the Union government’s direction that at least 2.4 per cent of total power consumed in the state should come from renewable sources, the cabinet on Thursday decided to set up 200 mw solar power plants over the next five years.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the cabinet, higher education minister Dr V.S. Acharya said the cost of power generation by such solar plants would be shared by ESCOMs and would not be a burden on consumers. “We have decided to go in phased manner and set up 40 mw units every year. At the end of five years, plants for production of 200 mw will be set up,’’ he added.

The government has made the estimation based on a similar unit set up near Kolar by the Union government. The 3 MW project was set up at a cost of around Rs 58 crore. Besides, the project had consumed a lot of place.

“We require a place which will have 245 days sun shine and there are many places in north Karnataka, which are suitable for such projects,”’ Dr Acharya said.

Meanwhile, the cabinet also decided to increase the share value of Karnataka State Minorities Development Corporation from Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore. This would help students from minority communities to make use of educational loan up to Rs 50,000 at a rate of two per cent rate of interest.

Besides, the cabinet also extended administrative consent to the corporation for raising internal resources to the tune of Rs 25 crore, for Haj Bhavan at Tirumenahalli, near Yelahanka. The government had already sanctioned Rs 15 crore and allotted 3acres for the building.

Mysore University Graduation 2011

Mysore, Apr. 11 (KMC&RK)- Union Law Minister Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, Narayana Hridayalaya Managing Director Dr. Deviprasad Shetty and People's Education Society (PES) Founder Chairman Prof. M.R. Doreswamy were conferred Honorary Doctorates by Higher Education Minister Dr. V.S. Acharya at the 91st Convocation of Mysore University yesterday.

The Convocation began two hours late at 6 pm since Dr. Acharya arrived late from Mangalore. (the delay was due to late arrival of special aircraft & bad weather en route). Governor-Chancellor H.R. Bhardwaj was absent. Renowned Sarod player Rajeev Taranath, who was also to receive the Doctorate, could not attend due to unforeseen circumstances. The posthumous Doctorate for Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, who founded the University in 1916, will be presented on a later date at the Raj Bhavan in Bangalore. All the dignitaries on the dais donned the traditional gowns and Mysore peta, upholding Mysore tradition.In all, 17,757 candidates were awarded degrees, of whom 9,856 were women. The convocation address was delivered by Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Science & Technology, New Delhi.

Varsities must introduce value-based education: Dr. T. RamasamiMysore, Apr. 11 (RK&DM)- "It is high time Indian Universities introduced value-based Education" opined. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Science & Technology Department, Government of India.He was delivering the convocation address at the 91st Convocation of Mysore University.There has been a significant increase in the number of students opting for higher education in the country. Even the literacy rate has jumped from 64 to 74 percent. It is estimated that nearly 3 crore students may enrol for higher education in the country by the year 2035. There is a need for introducing a new education system that forges east with the west, which also envisaged betterment of the society as a whole. By doing so, India would become a major educational hub in the entire world, he observed.Continuing, Ramasami said India is globally recognised for its rich tradition of culture and heritage. Value-based education is our strength. As such, it is important that everyone in the society is educated for the sustenance of morality in education. It is high time we concentrated on public education, he pointed out.Stressing the need for effectively meeting the challenges ahead, Ramasami said a national movement should be launched for value-based education and wondered what prevented us from having an education system that caters to the need of our future. Star Of Mysore

Dr V S Acharya Inaugurates New Office of Kaup Circle Inspector

Udupi, Apr 10: “The state has seen major growth in every sphere over the past five years chiefly due to the maintenance of law and order,” said district-in-charge minister Dr V S Acharya.
He was speaking after inaugurating the office of Kaup circle inspector which was built at a cost of Rs 14 lac during a function held here on Sunday April 10.

Dr Acharya announced that the state administration is committed to providing buildings, vehicles, armaments, and personnel to the police department as it intends to bring in reforms in the departmental set up.
Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, in his presidential address, urged the state administration to bring a few areas of Kaup legislative assembly constituency that come under the jurisdiction of Karkala sub-division into Udupi district. He also urged them to provide vehicles to Kaup and Shirva police stations. (Daijiworld)

Lobbying versus Logic

The Hindu

Udupinet

INTL. MEET ON 'RE-ENGINEERING OF MANAGEMENT EDUCATION

Mysore, Apr. 8 (KK&DM)- Higher Education Minister Dr. V.S. Acharya inaugurated the two-day international meet on 'Re-engineering of Management Education' at Cauvery Auditorium of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) this morning.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Acharya said the State has achieved a 13.15 % growth in higher education. There were a total of 138 lakh students enrolled in the State studying in classes ranging from first standard to PG courses. There were 103 lakh students studying in classes from 1st to 10th std, 25 lakhs for PUC, ITI and polytechnic courses and 10 lakhs for degree and PG courses. The State government has plans to increase the enrollment in collegiate education from the present 10 lakhs to 25 lakh over the next 7 years, he said.

Continuing, Dr. Acharya said the State government will give due importance to Management Education in this era of globalisation. Budgetary allocation for education in the State stood at Rs. 4,400 crore in 2004 while this figure touched Rs. 12, 284 crore five years later. In addition to this, private institutions too have made significant contribution to the field of education, he remarked. Pointing out that Karnataka has been recognised as the education hub in the Asian continent, Dr. Acharya said the state has over the years become a favourite destination for Asian students to pursue higher education.

Complimenting KSOU for its MBA course, Dr. Acharya said the increasing demand for the course is a good sign. Of late, there has been an increasing gap between education and employment and it is time for everyone concerned to introspect on the urgent need for bridging this gap, he said.

Josef Jooste Coetzee of Johannesburh, South Africa, delivered the keynote address. KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa presided.

Sanjeev Bajaj, MD, Bajaj Financial Services, New Delhi, Tushar Girinath, Commissioner, Department of Collegiate Education, KSOU Dean Prof. Jagadeesha, Registrar K.R. Jayprakash Rao were present.

Minister Acharya, Coetzee, Sanjeev Bajaj and Tushar Girinath were felicitated by the KSOU on the occasion.

Company representatives, MBA and Business Management students and experts from across the country and the world are taking part in this 2-day meet which concludes tomorrow with the valedictory address by Prof. K.B. Akhilesh of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore at 4 pm. Star Of Mysore

34 beneficiaries get autos under ITDP

The district administration in association with Zilla Panchayat, Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) Udupi, Udupi City Municipality Corporation and Syndicate Bank organised programme to distribute auto-rickshaws to the beneficiaries belonging to Koraga community under ITDP project here at Ambedkar Bhavan on Sunday.

Speaking after giving away the keys of the auto-rickshaws to the beneficiaries, Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya said the government is taking all measures to support the primitive tribes in the State. Education, employment, nutrition, housing amenities for SC/ST and Koraga communities are some of the areas that are given more thrust by the government. About Rs 4,633 crore is allocated by the government as special component earmarked for the welfare programmes of SCs. The amount allocated during previous year was Rs 3,300 crore. Special financial component of Rs 1,800 crore for ST have been separately announced in the budget, he said. About Rs 300 crore has been earmarked to develop the hamlet areas belonging to SC/ST and as many as 300 areas have been identified for the purpose. Measures are being taken to introduce skill development programmes for the students belonging to SC/ST and funds will be released for the programme shortly, he said.

Dr Acharya urged the beneficiaries to maintain cordial relationship with the customers and pay the installments of the loan on time, he said.

The government has given about Rs 80,000 for the auto-rickshaw under ITDP project and Syndicate Bank has offered Rs 20,000 each to the auto-rickshaw. The CMC has provided a sum of Rs 20,000 to the beneficiaries residing within the CMC limits for the auto. As many as 34 beneficiaries were given auto-rickshaws on the occasion. Cheques were given away to as many as 6 beneficiaries under housing schemes and 9 for higher education programme under ITDP project on the occasion.

DHNS

Praise for teachers

The spurt in India's literacy rate from 12 per cent during Independence to over 74 per cent, according to the latest census is a credit to the teachers of the country, Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya has said.

Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of Vijaya Teachers' College here on Saturday, Dr. Acharya said the overall literacy rate had grown from 64.8 per cent in the past decade. Indicators of education and health had seen a steady progress, which would have been impossible without the dedicated effort of teachers.

The focus of the education system now, said Dr. Acharya, should be on gearing it towards the present demands of the competitive world and the changed nature of the economy. “Along with traditional education, we need a thrust on skill development and aptitude training,” he said. There were dramatic changes post 1992 and the education system had to adapt to the changing scenario, he said.

Teachers and heads of various institutions affiliated to Vijaya educational institutions were felicitated. Minister for Urban Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs S. Suresh Kumar and Jayanagar MLA B.N. Vijaya Kumar were present. News from TheHindu, Photo from the net.