The Universities Grants Commission (UGC), in an effort to make PM Modi’s Swachh Bharat campaign a success, has allowed colleges and universities to use their general development funds for the campaign. The higher education institutes have also been asked to introduce subjects related to cleanliness in environment studies.
Sources said UGC has in a letter to colleges and universities allowed the use of this fund for ensuring cleanliness on the campuses. The HRD ministry has also asked colleges and educational institutions to ensure the programme is sustained in a “befitting” manner and the campuses are kept clean.
The communication stated that the educational institutes should take the help of seminars, debates and social media in helping generate awareness regarding cleanliness on the campuses. Another communiqué issued by the HRD ministry asked UGC to roll out schemes on national initiatives for fostering social responsibility in higher education and set guidelines for the establishment of a centre for fostering social responsibility and community engagement in universities during the 12th Plan Period.
“The centre would help to leverage on the mobilisation and interest that will be generated in the higher educational institutions during the launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” it said.
