Higher educational institutions across the country either funded by government or approved by regulatory bodies can now adopt a cluster of gram panchayats (GP) preferably in backward regions and transform lives in rural India using technology.
The mandate before them under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) programme would be to find solutions ranging from village sanitation and drinking water supply to ensuring affordable housing and enhancing educational standards.
The institutes will select the GPs in consultation with the district collectors keeping in mind indicators like MGNREGS households, SC and ST population and agricultural labourers.
The task of identifying the GPs should be completed by September 30, said a HRD Ministry circular forwarded to all states and educational bodies such as UGC, AICTE, IITs, IIMs, NITs.
"Every higher educational institution, which is funded by the Central/State Government, and all institutions which are under approval by regulatory bodies, may adopt a cluster of backward Gram Panchayats (GPs) in their vicinity for the purpose of UBA," the circular said.
The move in a way signifies broadening the scope and mission of UBA launched in November last year, where IITs and some other centrally funded institutes were engaged in developing villages.
