Polytechnics to be Managed by Ministry of Skill Development, not HRD
Now, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will control the four schemes funding polytechnics.
Last month, the Ministry of Human Resource and Development handed over architecture to Ministry of Urban Development. Similarly, the HRD Ministry has been asked to handover four schemes funding polytechnics to Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The decision was communicated to HRD Ministry through an order that was dispatched by the Cabinet last month.
According to sources, Minister of Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar resisted the proposal initially. However, the ministry agreed to the proposal later and decided to handover four schemes funding polytechnics, i.e., ‘Upgradation of Polytechnics’, ‘Construction of Women’s Hostels in Polytechnics’, ‘Scheme of Community Development through Polytechnics’ and ‘Setting up of New Polytechnics in Undeserved and Unserved Districts’.
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Now, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will control the four schemes funding polytechnics. Even though the state governments established the polytechnics, the Centre has been funding them financially through the four schemes that are covered under ‘Submission on Polytechnics’, which was started under 11th Five Year Plan.
Under the scheme of ‘Setting up of New Polytechnics in Undeserved and Unserved Districts’, HRD Ministry has been investing Rs. 12.3 crore in every polytechnic that is setup across 300 districts. On the other hand, the Centre is also providing Rs. 500 crore to the state governments for the scheme, ‘Construction of Women’s Hostels in Polytechnics’.
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Currently, there are around 4,000 polytechnics across the country and these institutes are playing a significant role in preparing the skilled workforce for organized, unorganized and service sectors. All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is responsible for regulating the polytechnics and it sets minimum standards of education to be imparted by these institutes.
However, there is no clarity whether polytechnics are regulated by AICTE or National Council for Vocational Training of Ministry of Skill Development.