Bhubaneswar: State Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj Wednesday said that the government is committed to implementing the New Education Policy (NEP) in order to promote poor and meritorious students of the state. This was revealed during his first review meeting chaired by him at Lok Seva Bhawan hereafter assumed the charge. Higher Education department’s commissioner-cum secretary Aravind Agrawal and other officials were present at the meeting. Agarwal, special secretary of the department Pramod Kumar Mishra, Ramakant Nayak and other senior officials welcomed the minister by offering him bouquets and informed him about various programmes being implemented in colleges and universities of the state, and also various activities being undertaken by the department. Suraj said the government is determined to promote meritorious and poor students through implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP).
On being informed about the performance and issues in different colleges – private, non-aided and block grants – and universities of the state, the minister asked the department officials to take necessary steps to resolve the same as soon as possible. He also emphasised the enrolment and attendance of female students in colleges and universities. The minister said that there would be no shortage of funds for infrastructure development and other activities in higher education institutions of the state. All the schemes and programmes launched by the Higher Education department should be implemented in letter and spirit to help the students, especially the poor and meritorious ones, reap the benefits.