CM announces Rs. 5 crore for launch of B.Tech. AI course
Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over a programme organised on the occasion of the 57th Foundation Day of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla said that new age courses would be introduced in the University in line with future requirements. He said that the state government would facilitate exposure visits abroad for teachers as well as students and adequate funds would be made available for this purpose.
Extending his greetings on the Foundation Day of the Himachal Pradesh University, the Chief Minister said that this University would be designated as the nodal agency for green hydrogen in the coming times. He said that HPU would have to align itself with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and data storage and added that the state government was making continuous efforts to promote these sectors. He announced a grant of Rs. 5 crore for starting a B. Tech. course in artificial intelligence in the University.
The Chief Minister said that he had spent eight years of his life in Himachal Pradesh University and also begun his political journey from this institute. ‘This University has given me the opportunity to learn many things. I have risen to the position of the Chief Minister after studying here, while Professor Mahavir Singh, the Vice-Chancellor, is also associated with the same institution. Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has also been a student of this University. Today, the entire country is taking note of the achievements of Himachal Pradesh University and its alumni are serving at important positions in various fields across the country and the state,’ he said.
Sukhu said that when the Congress government assumed office, the state was facing a serious financial crisis. Despite these challenges, the state government had undertaken comprehensive reforms in the education sector. According to a Central government survey conducted in 2021, Himachal Pradesh ranked 21st in the field of education, whereas the state had now improved its position to fifth in terms of quality education due to the efforts of the present state government.
He said that the present government had taken the decision to close around 500 educational institutions opened by the previous BJP government for political considerations and had instead focused on improving the quality of education. The state government had introduced initiatives such as English-medium from 1st Class, Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools and exposure tours to the students and teachers. He said that more than 150 new CBSE schools had been opened in the state and positive results were emerging from these initiatives. While students had earlier been shifting from government schools to private schools, the enrolment in government schools had now increased by more than 24,000, he added.
Sukhu said that reforms were also required in the higher education sector and Universities should introduce new and employment-oriented courses. He added that teachers and students of Himachal Pradesh University would also be sent on exposure visits.
The Chief Minister said that the present state government was working towards improving the health sector along with education. People from Himachal Pradesh spend around Rs 1,000 crore annually on their medical treatment outside the state and to address this situation, old machinery and technology in government health institutions were being replaced and efforts were afoot to provide modern medical facilities at par with AIIMS, Delhi.
He said that robotic surgery facilities had been introduced in four medical colleges, which cost around Rs 1.25 lakh per procedure, and the state government was providing a subsidy of Rs. 80,000. He further said that Rs. 125 crore had been allocated for establishing five automated laboratories in the state, which would be ready by December. These initiatives would help in making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and modern in the health sector, he added.
Sukhu said that the construction of Himachal Bhawan in Delhi would be completed in approximately one month. The facility would provide affordable accommodation to the students and other people from the state visiting Delhi.
Earlier, the Chief Minister laid foundation stones of modern digital library in the University to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 10.25 crore and Administrative Block of University Institute of Legal Studies to be built with an outlay of Rs. 6.09 crore. He said that the digital library would provide students access to modern e-resources and research material, while the institute of legal studies would help in promoting quality legal education in the State. He expressed hope that the new facilities would further enhance the academic standards of HPU.
Vice-Chancellor Himachal Pradesh University, Professor Mahavir Singh said that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had contributed significantly to the development of the University and had continuously encouraged it to adopt modern technologies. He said that, in line with the Chief Minister’s vision, five new centres were being established in the University and all departments would be linked with these centres. He added that, on the directions of the Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh University had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with prestigious institutions such as IIT Roorkee.
MLA Harish Janartha, Vice-Chairman of HP State Forest Development Corporation Kehar Singh Khachi, Mayor Surinder Chauhan, Chairman Kailash Federation Baldev Thakur, alumni Dr. Vijay Kumar Stokes, Dr. Raj Bahadur, DC Anupam Kashyap and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
