The Union Cabinet has approved setting up a National University for Women at Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh under the name – “The Indira Gandhi National University for Women”. This will be the first university of the country to be established exclusively for women.
A bill, namely, the Indira Gandhi National University for Women Bill, 2013 will be introduced in the coming monsoon session of Parliament. After the passage of the Bill, steps will be taken to set up the University.
It will include a cost of Rs 500 crore during the 12th Plan period.
This would set the pace for all round growth and development of women in the country and supplement the efforts of the Government for women’s empowerment by giving them an increased access to employment oriented basic courses and high end research.
Of the total population of the country at 121 crore, there are 58.6 crore women of which 9.5 crore are in Uttar Pradesh. The literacy rate among the women is 20% less than that of men and about 25 crore women are still illiterate and out of that 61% are in the northern state alone.
