Date:19/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/19/stories/2007081961500100.htm

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Karunanidhi seeks three more premier institutes for State

Special Correspondent

Asks Manmohan to set up IIT in Madurai, IIM in Coimbatore, IISER in Tiruchi

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is pitching for its share in the Independence Day educational bonanza.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to set up a new Indian Institute of Technology in Madurai, an Indian Institute of Management in Coimbatore and an Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research in Tiruchi.

In his Independence Day speech, the Prime Minister had announced the establishment of eight IITs, seven IIMs and five IISERs.

In a letter sent to Dr. Singh on Saturday, Mr. Karunanidhi said that setting up these institutes in Tamil Nadu would give a fillip to the State’s educational agenda and boost its industrial potential.

“Tamil Nadu has always given great emphasis to education, particularly to technical and professional education. The State has made consistent efforts to make colleges and polytechnics accessible and affordable to all the people. The availability of such skilled manpower has enabled the State to attract huge investments in industry and business,” the letter said.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the Prime Minister would take a favourable decision and locate these premier institutions in the State. “This will enable Tamil Nadu to achieve its dream of providing quality higher education and vocational training to a large number of aspirants, and in the process augment the human resource development and sustain the pace of industrialisation and employment generation,” said Mr. Karunanidhi.

The Chief Minister welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of setting up colleges in districts that had a low-level of enrolment, and providing government support to new high quality schools in every block, Industrial Training Institutes, polytechnics, vocational schools and skill development centres. The Prime Minister had announced a Mission on Vocational Education and Skill Development to open 1,600 ITIs and polytechnics, 10,000 vocational schools and 50,000 skill development centres for 100 lakh students to get vocational training.