The University Grand Commission has speed up its programme to set up Rajiv Gandhi Chair in 10 universities across the country. The main objective of the Chair is to pursue research on issues such as Panchayati Raj, Women`s Empowerment and Nuclear Disarmament, subjects close to the heart of the late leader.

This program is hundred per cent funded by the Union Government; the Chairs would be fully autonomous institutions. The UGC will be the nodal agency to support the scheme. The Chairs would be set up in the Universities of Punjab, Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras, Allahabad, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, the Cochin University of Science and Technology and Barkatullah University in Bhopal.

There would be a national coordination committee to advise on the activities of the Chair and make it unique in approach and functioning. It will also provide capacity building activities for teachers, researchers and students in colleges and universities on key issues. In this regard U.G.C will sanction Rs.20 lakh to each university in every academic year for the smooth functioning of this programme. U.G.C has already sanctioned Rs20 lakh to the Universities of Punjab, North Eastern Hill University, Delhi University, and Cochin University of Science & Technology for the establishment of the chair.

(Source: www.indiaedunews.net)