Uttarakhand to focus on education sector: Governor

Dehra Dun, Mar 14 (PTI) In a bid to boost education, the Uttarakhand government will set up new universities and colleges in the hill state, Governor Margaret Alva said today.These universities include Uttarakhand National Law University at Bhawali in Nainital district, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Uttarakhand University at Badshahi Thaul in Tehri district and Vanasthali Vidyapeeth University in Dehra Dun district, Alva said in her Governor's address on the first day of the Budget Session which began today.Apart from this, the government will also set up first women technical college at Suddhowala in Dehra Dun.For providing quality and higher education in rural areas, the government has set up a college at Thalisein in Pauri district, she said.For girls belonging to BPL (Below Poverty Line) families, the government will provide them with various scholarships. Free uniforms are also being given to all girl students up to Class VIII. In addition to this, students belonging to BPL and ST (Scheduled Tribe) categories are also given free uniforms.The government has also launched mobile schools to make education more accessible.On the health sector, Alva said the government has made it compulsory for MBBS students to serve in government hospitals for first five years after attaining their degree. A state college of nursing has been set up in Dehra Dun, she said."My government has appointed 227 ayurvedic doctors to meet the shortage of doctors in the hilly areas," she said.A Unani medical college is also being set up at Bhagwanpur area of Haridwar district. Besides, an international Ayush research institute is being proposed at Charekdanda, which is said to be the birthplace of Maharishi Charak, she said.The first Ayush gram is also being set up at Bhawali on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode with the Kolkata-based Emami Pvt Ltd. A state homoeopathic college is also being set up at Srinagar town of Pauri district.Nearly 2500 industrial units have started production in Uttarakhand with an investment of over Rs 26,500 crore till August 2010, she said.On Corbett park, she said the government has launched new initiatives like notifying the park as Corbett Tiger Reserve, issuing notification for setting up a special tiger protection force and also Corbett tiger conservation foundation.