New Delhi: Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry proposes to set up twenty new Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs) during the XIth Plan. The ministry took the initiative in order to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in the Indian IT industry, which is vital for the growth of the domestic IT market.
D. Purandeswari, Minister of state for HRD, in his written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha has mentioned that the proposal is for setting up all twenty IIITs in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, since industry participation may not be forthcoming in some states like in the north east. Therefore, it is proposed that IIITs in the north east may be set up by the central government with contributions from Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER).
In addition, 300 new polytechnics are to be set up through PPP by the state government/ union territories with roughly one-fourth of the cost of capital assets being provided by the government of India with a ceiling of Rs 3 crore. According to an Official, these 300 polytechnics will be selected in consultation with the state government/ union territories, various industrial organizations such as CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and PHD Chamber of Commerce, etc.
