In
a proactive measure, the Department has announced a special package for North
East Region for strengthening Science and Technology education and research at
a total budgetary provision of Rs. 70 crore for 5 years.The package focuses the
following:
A.Augmentation
of S&T education infrastructure:
Under the initiative,
total of 50 colleges would be identified and selected based on considerations
of potentials for excellence in science education. Rs.50 lakh per college for
5 years is envisaged.
B. Enrichment of research efforts
through exchange fellowships
Visiting Professorships for short term attachment to the
universities in NER:
Total of five
visiting professorships for each university are proposed. This would amount to
total of 70 such professorships. Each professorship would carry costs of travel
plus an honorarium of Rs 25,000.
Visiting fellowships to research students from NER for work
in other regions:
Total of 100 visiting fellowships for research
scholars from NER for supporting attachment to institutions outside the NER would
be formulated and provided. These fellowships would carry to and fro travel costs
plus a monthly compensation of Rs 8000 pm for three months. The host institution
would also be provided a contingency grant of Rs 10,000 pm for the fellowship
period for supporting the scholars.
Faculty
Assistance programs for young researchers:
Under the scheme, young
researchers from NER desirous of collaborating and carrying out research in other
locations in the country for short periods of time would be provided a visiting
fellowship program for a period not exceeding one month per year. This visit could
be used also for the preparation of research proposals for competitive bidding
under SERC mechanism. The fellowship would carry to and fro travel costs plus
Rs 8000 towards contingency and other expenditures.
C.
Special FIST assistance to universities in the region:
Support
would be extended to University (as Unit) upto Rs 1.5 crores for teaching related
support (not for research activity).
D. Strengthening
of physical infrastructure in universities:
One time support not exceeding
Rs 50 lakhs per university for improving the uninterrupted and stabilized power
supply.
E. Major Facility Support:
Two
units would be supported at a total cost of Rs. 10 crore in the region for aquiring
major Facilities like SEM/ NMR/ Single Crystal Facility etc
F.
Summer School / Winter School for UG & PG Students:
A number
summer/winter schools are planned in the area relevant to the region
G.
Focus R&D Support:
Research having relevance to NER region like
bio-diversity, disaster management, flood control etc. is proposed to be supported
in consortium mode.