Vice-Chairman of State Planning Commission Mr. Ajay Singh chairs a virtual workshop

Positive India:Raipur, 05 November 2020

State Government, under the aegis of State Planning Commission, has taken a first of its kind initiative to link the academia with executive. An MoU was signed for this purpose, in presence of Chief Minister Mr Bhupesh Baghel, with eighteen universities and higher education institutes on 20th October. The objective of this idea is to ensure the sustainable development and address the challenges of exclusion.
The State Planning Commission organised a virtual workshop with the head of these 18 institutions on 3rd November to take the work forward. During the meeting institutions requested State Planning Commission to act as a bridge between government departments and academic institutes. The importance of multi disciplinary and inter sectoral research was also emphasised. It was also agreed during the meeting that an online research repository will be developed at State Planning Commission, along with research directory.
The academic institutes also agreed to involve their faculties and students in applied researches to help government’s effort of ensuring the development reaches to every citizen of the state. A dedicated cell for this purpose is being created in all eighteen institutes.
While appreciating the unique idea of bringing academics and executives on one platform, the Vice Chancellors emphasised the need of establishing institutes for the subjects like Tropical medicines, Tribal and Social development which can cater to the specific needs of Chhattisgarh. They also shared the need of developing common library and laboratory which can be used by institutes as well as government departments for researches and development work.
It was also discussed to organise monthly event in every institute to debate and discuss Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation related issues. A suggestion was also made to establish cells dedicated to research on poverty alleviation and other developmental challenges. The State Planning Commission also invited research proposals from the universities which can be taken to take the partnership forward.
The State Planning Commission was represented by Vice Chairman Mr. Ajay Singh, member Dr. K Subramanium, Adviser to Chief Minister Mr Pradeep Sharma, member secretary Mr. Anoop Kumar Shrivastava , Joint Directors Dr. Vatsala Mishra and Dr. Neetu Goradiya while institutes were represented by their respective Vice Chancellors.