Rayaraddi inaugurates new college buildings in Aland

Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi on Saturday inaugurated the Government Polytechnic College building, constructed at a cost of ₹8 crore, and the Government First Grade Degree College building, constructed at a cost of ₹5.26 crore, on the college campus in Aland.

The polytechnic building was constructed under the Technical Education Scheme for 2017-18, while the first grade college building was built under the Macro/Micro component of the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB) scheme for 2023-24.

Mr. Rayaraddi said the State government had earmarked ₹55,000 crore, or 11.6% of its total Budget of ₹4.48 lakh crore, for the education sector. To improve the quality of higher education, the government would soon fill vacant teaching posts in colleges and universities on the basis of merit, he said.

“Committed to the development of Kalyana Karnataka, our government is allocating ₹5,000 crore annually to the KKRDB. The implementation of Article 371(J) had provided substantial reservation benefits to young people of the region in education and employment,” the Minister said.

Earlier, Mr. Rayaraddi laid the foundation stone for a post-matric boys’ hostel of the Backward Classes Welfare Department at Aland town. The hostel will be built at a cost of ₹5 crore under the joint initiative of the district administration and zilla panchayat, in association with the department and the KKRDB.

Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission vice-chairman and Aland MLA B.R. Patil said the inauguration of the two college buildings marked an important step in strengthening higher education facilities in Aland taluk.

MP for Bidar Sagar Khandre stressed the need for further improvements in the education sector, including the construction of college buildings and the recruitment of qualified staff. He also said steps were being taken by the State and Central governments to ensure appropriate compensation and insurance benefits for people affected by the drought.

Government Polytechnic College principal Prakash Bure said around 240 students had enrolled in the institution. The new building would help provide quality technical education at an affordable cost and create better opportunities for students from economically poor families in rural areas, he said.

Legislative Council member Tippannappa Kamaknoor, Joint Director of the Collegiate Education Department Pandit Belamagi, backward classes welfare officer V. Ashok, Aland tahsildar Annarao Patil, Government First Grade College principal Premila Ambarao and others were present.