Himachal Pradesh Technical University would be introducing Students Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme to exempt students admitted for different degree courses from paying the fee for entire duration of the course. This was stated by Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, after he inaugurated camp office of newly constituted Himachal Pradesh Technical University, at Hamirpur and laid foundation stone of additional accommodation of HPTDC Hotel Hamir, estimated to cost Rs. 1.5 crore, today, to add more facilities at the district headquarter to cater to the requirements of local residents and tourists visiting the town.
Chief Minister said that the state government was giving added attention towards starting vocational courses in different discipline so that youth were equipped with required skills to meet global challenges in the modern day context. He said that besides providing various incentives under different schemes of the government, Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme would be launched for the benefit of outstanding students which would save them Rs. 1.92 lakh , Rs. 1.80 lakh and Rs. 1.68 lakh fee being charged by different private engineering colleges and Rs. 1.20 lakh chargeable in Government Engineering Colleges. He said that the students selected to avail benefits under the scheme would be exempted from payment of tuition fee for the entire duration of four years of specific degree course. He said that there were many students who were intelligent and outstanding but for lack of finance had been unable to carry forward with their pursuits in different vocational courses and the new scheme would be of immense benefit to such students.
Prof. Dhumal said that the Technical University would also be ensuring reservation of seats to 5 percent students belonging to IRDP, BPL, Antyodaya and others belonging to orphan families in the State. He said that any students belonging to any of the above categories and having annual income of less than Rs. 2.50 lakh from all sources would be eligible under Tution Fee Waiver Scheme to avail exemption in payment of tuition fee. He said that all such schemes of the State Government aim at providing additional opportunities to children of deserving sections of society to pursue their academic pursuits more conveniently. He said that additionally books on loan basis facility would be made available from library for the entire semester. He said that the State Government had also set up Atal Behari Vajpayee Government Institute of Engineering and Technology at Pragatinagar in district Shimla where admission for ongoing academic session of 2012-13 would be carried on priority.
Chief Minister said that besides upgrading different centres of higher education emerging courses were also being added to academic curriculum all over the State. He said that MBA and MCA courses had also been started in Government Degree College, Una where admissions were taking place from current academic session. He said that similarly many other degree colleges would be starting with other such vocational courses so that quality vocational education facility was available to youth near to their homes. He re-iterated the resolve of the State Government to strengthen vocational education network in the state so that youth were equipped with emerging skills to make their future secure.
Prof. Shashi K.Dhiman, Vice Chancellor, HP Technical University, welcomed the Chief Minister and apprised him of the proposed activities to be undertaken by the University in the State in regulation of different engineering and other vocational educational institutions.
Urmil Thakur, MLA, Des Raj Sharma, President, District Hamirpur BJP, Rajender Singh, DC, Madhusudan Sharma, SP, B.T.Negi, Chief Engineer PWD, Brig. Rajender Rana, Director, Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department, other senior officers and party functionaries of the district were present on the occasion.
