Shillong, Jun 10: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui highlighted that despite the transformative impact of the National Education Policy (NEP), there are persistent challenges faced in infrastructure development and project implementation due to the unique geographical constraints of the North Eastern states.
In his address during the inaugural function of a regional workshop on the implementation of RUSA/PM-Usha at the State Convention Centre today, he highlighted the unique geographical and topographical constraints faced by the region, noting that difficult terrain, land availability issues, communication barriers, and logistical challenges often delay project execution despite the commitment of beneficiary institutions and state governments.
Rymbui stressed the need for a flexible and pragmatic approach in project execution while calling for active participation from institutions, communities, and local authorities. By fostering collaborative stakeholder engagement, he said educational projects can be effectively implemented, thus enhancing access to higher education across the region.
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education Joint Secretary Avni Gupta Pethia stated that 80 percent of RUSA projects in the region have reached completion despite geographical challenges.
Pethia stressed the urgency of expediting the implementations and urged states to accelerate the utilisation of PM-USHA funds, assuring them of the ministry’s unwavering support to tackle legitimate implementation challenges. The government remains committed to a favourable 90:10 funding pattern under centrally sponsored schemes to provide students with equitable, accessible, inclusive, and quality higher education opportunities, she said.
State education commissioner & secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri stressed that while infrastructure development remains important, the broader challenge lies in strengthening higher education governance, academic quality, and institutional capacity.
The workshop is being organised by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education with officials and stakeholders from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim attending.
The workshop will deliberate on project implementation, fund utilization, infrastructure development, and strategies to ensure timely completion of ongoing RUSA and PM-USHA projects across the region.
