Bhubaneswar, 13 October (H.S.): Odisha BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal on Tuesday said the BJP government is committed to transforming higher education and securing a better future for the youth through improved educational infrastructure, skill development, research and employment opportunities.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters in Bhubaneswar, Biswal highlighted the expansion of higher education institutions across the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He said the number of universities had increased from 760 in 2014-15 to 1,289, while medical colleges had grown from 387 to 846. MBBS seats had also increased from 51,348 to 1,39,864. The number of IITs rose from 16 to 23, IIMs from 13 to 21, and AIIMS institutions from seven to 20, he added.

Biswal said the Odisha government had introduced several initiatives to strengthen higher education, including free education from kindergarten to postgraduate level, appointments of vice-chancellors in 14 universities, faculty recruitment and financial assistance of Rs 677 crore to universities through PM-USHA and state schemes. The Gyanodaya scheme has an allocation of Rs 5,403 crore over five years, he said. The government is also promoting fintech education, artificial intelligence, semiconductor development and smart learning in educational institutions.

BJP National Mahila Morcha social media coordinator Sujata Padhi said the state government, under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, was focusing on implementing the National Education Policy and linking education with technology, research and emerging employment opportunities. She highlighted initiatives such as e-Medhabruti, Gopabandhu Shiksha Sahayata, Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Medhabruti and the Godabarish incentive scheme, which provides laptop assistance to eligible meritorious students.

Padhi added that the government was also prioritising girls’ hostels, digital classrooms, research fellowships, support for economically disadvantaged students and coaching for civil service aspirants. She said the objective was not merely to award degrees but to equip Odisha’s youth with the skills and opportunities needed to build successful careers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda