Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 676.7 cr to Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA). Out of the total fund, Rs 408.7 crores will come from the Central Government, while Rs 268 crores will be contributed by the state, said Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj at a press conference at Lok Seva Bhavan. The fund aims to strengthen the infrastructure and enhance human resource development, research and skill-building initiatives in universities and colleges across Odisha. It also seeks to promote employable education for students, said the Minister.
The Ministry of Education, Government of India, decided how to distribute the cash at its third Project Approval Board meeting. This grant will be used to establish smart classrooms, labs, computer labs, academic buildings, and libraries at Odisha’s colleges and universities. High-quality education will also be supported by the development of sophisticated research infrastructure. There are five main groups in the allocation. Four universities will each receive Rs 100 crores under the Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU) category, for a total of Rs 400 crores. Five universities will each receive Rs 20 crores, for a total of Rs 100 crores, under the Grants to Strengthen Universities Category. Twenty-four schools will get a total of Rs 120 crores, or Rs 5 crores apiece, under the Grants to Strengthen schools category.
Five districts will get a total of Rs 50 crores, or Rs 10 crores, under the Gender Inclusion and Equality Initiatives. A grant of Rs 6.7 crores would be given for Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research (MMER). Ravenshaw University, Berhampur University, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, and Sambalpur University are notable recipients of the MERU program. Under the PM-USHA Scheme, aspirational areas will also receive extra attention to guarantee high-quality education and upgraded infrastructure.
Minister Suraj highlighted that the scheme focuses on inclusive education, ensuring no student, including women and differently-abled students, is left behind. The scheme also emphasizes skill development, self-defense training and employability enhancement, paving the way for students to secure better career opportunities. Periodic reviews of projects under the scheme will ensure effective implementation, enabling colleges and universities to achieve NAAC accreditation. This initiative is expected to build a strong foundation for higher education in Odisha and foster a brighter future for students, the Minister added.
