Dharmendra Pradhan to set foundation stone for Central Tribal University today

VIJAYAWADA: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan will set the foundation stone for the Central Tribal University (CTU), to be constructed in an area of 561.88 acres at a cost of Rs834 crore in Mentada and Dattirajeru Mandals of Saluru constituency, Vizianagaram district, on Friday.

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will be present at the event.

This university would improve education standards in the state’s northern region. It would also break the barriers to education among tribals.

Land acquisition for CTU has been done in Marrivalasa of Dattirajeru Mandal and Chinamedapalli of Mentada Mandal. In addition to allocating government land, the state government paid a compensation of Rs 29.97 crores to farmers who gave their lands in those villages to the university. It also spent another Rs 28.49 crores on infrastructure development.

Within 50 months of coming to power, the YSRC government spent Rs 16,805.77 crores on tribal welfare under DBT and non-DBT modes through various government welfare schemes.

The state government facilitated the start of the university by providing it with the required land, power, water supply, and road connectivity.

The CTU would offer 14 academic courses -- in English, Sociology, Tribal Studies, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Journalism, MBA, MSW at postgraduate level, Artificial Intelligence, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Tourism and Travel Management, B.Com in Vocational etc. in Degree level and short-term courses in skill development, vocational and job-oriented.