MP government set to provide smartphones to 1.5 lakh college students

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has issued orders for providing smartphones to nearly 1.5 lakh government college students in first year as promised in the manifesto of the ruling BJP.

"We have issued orders for providing smartphones to nearly 1.5 lakh first year government colleges students. The distribution will begin from January, 2015," Madhya Pradesh Higher and Technical Education and Skill Development Minister, Uma Shankar Gupta told reporters here today highlighting his ministry's achievements.

The government has also provided WiFi facility in 122 government colleges of the state so far, he said.

Gupta also informed that a single college in each division will be selected for partnership with international-level educational institutions and for this purpose Bhopal-based College of Excellence has been designated as nodal institution.

Referring to vacancies in colleges, he said that the State Public Service Commission has been directed to conduct selection process for the post of 1,646 Assistant Professors in government colleges.

Besides, Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) has been directed to fill 302 class-III posts in Higher Education Department.

For promoting commerce stream, the government has decided to make a college in each division as " Excellence Institution."

Referring to Technical Education and Skill Development Department, the Minister informed that in the current year 1.63 lakh students took admission in different ITI and Skill Development Centres.