The Gujarat government plans to invest Rs 50 crore to set up a children?s university, the first of its kind in the country. The children?s university would be started as Bal Gokulam, and would be converted into a full-fledged university that will ensure all-round development of children through scientific programmes.
The state government also plans to open up 10 new colleges in backward areas. This was disclosed at the meeting between Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and state chief minister Narendra Modi here last week to finalise the state?s Annual Plan for 2008-09. The Plan size for Gujarat for the current fiscal has been pegged at Rs 21,000 crore.
Complimenting the state for its good economic performance, Ahluwalia said Gujarat had achieved a growth rate of 10.4% during the Tenth Plan period. The state has fixed a growth rate target of 11.2%, which is achievable going by the current trends, he added.
As regards human development, Ahluwalia appreciated efforts made to improve the indices. It may be recalled that Gujarat?s growth model has been questioned by many experts as well as the state?s Human Development Report, 2004, which brought out the fact that while Gujarat was among the top performers among states in attracting investment, it had slipped on the HDI front.
