Higher Education Minister Tank Ram Verma today held a meeting of departmental officials at Indravati Bhawan in Nava Raipur and gave comprehensive guidelines keeping in mind innovation, quality improvement and special needs of the state in the higher education sector. Minister Tank Ram Verma told the officials that implementation of concrete and effective action plans is necessary to make Chhattisgarh's higher education modern, innovative and in line with the future of the youth.

Minister Verma discussed in detail the topics like creation of State Higher Education Plan (SHEP), guiding principles for effective implementation of New Education Policy (NEP-2020), training program from RUSA's Preparatory Grant and DDMT item, physical and financial target setting under State Higher Education Scheme and budget estimates in accordance with Institutional Development Plans (IDP) etc. and gave necessary guidelines.

He said that action plans should be prepared in accordance with the special needs of Chhattisgarh, especially concrete steps should be taken for expansion and innovation of higher education in tribal dominated and Naxal-affected areas like Bastar and Surguja. He directed to give priority to special programs like 'Niyad Nella Nar' and conservation of forest medicines. Along with this, special programs for training youth in electronics and semiconductor sector, digitization of higher education and development of digital infrastructure and effective implementation of schemes like Saathi, Samarth, MOOC, Swayam, Swayam Prabha were also emphasized.

In the meeting, it was agreed to take necessary initiatives to encourage startups, incubation, internships, patents and world-class research. Finally, a framework was set for taking policy decisions to improve the quality of universities and colleges of the state. On this occasion, senior officers and employees of the department including Commissioner of Higher Education Department Dr. Santosh Dewangan were present.