Mayawati built stone parks, my govt will build IT park: Akhilesh

The announcement follows a “brainstorming” session he had with HCL founder and chairman Shiv Nadar here last week.

Akhilesh was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 125-year celebrations of Isabella Thoburn College in Lucknow. The IT college claims to be the oldest missionary college for women in Asia.

Referring to his talks with Shiv Nadar, Akhilesh said that HCL wanted to go to Noida. “But I said I wanted the company to come to Lucknow. The last government had established stone parks. We want to establish IT parks,” he told the gathering.

Akhilesh promised all possible assistance to the IT college “which has succeeded in providing good facilities to students without any government aid”. He said the government would help the college in getting university status if the institution so wanted.

Another gift to the college from the chief minister, which came in a dramatic way, was the promise of Rs 1 crore grant for extending its hostel facilities. Akhilesh cut into the concluding remarks of a college functionary and said, “I have lived in a hostel and I am well aware of its problems.” The college has a single hostel for 300 students.

He also announced that his government will provide free education for girls pursuing medical and engineering courses. He said that women’s education up to graduation will also be free. These were promised in the

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