AICTE, IIT Guwahati extend scheme to provide financial support to NE technical institutes

The GAINER (Grant for Augmenting Infrastructure in North East Region) scheme was launched to provide financial support to the North-Eastern technical institutions to help improve the water and energy problems. 

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has extended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to provide financial support to the beneficiaries of the GAINER scheme. The GAINER scheme, which was earlier known as Special Scheme for NER, was launched to provide financial support to the North-Eastern technical institutions to help improve the water and energy problems. 

AICTE and IIT Guwahati had signed the MoU last year for one year to implement the scheme. The agreement has now been extended for another two years with the addition of digital connectivity infrastructure along with solar power and water supply with wider coverage of needy institutions and mentoring for MODROBS and RPS schemes. 

Prof TG Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati, and Prof Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE, signed the MoU. He said both AICTE and IIT Guwahati had interest in promoting research, development and quality improvement in the North-East region (NER) of the country. A coordinated effort between IIT Guwahati and AICTE will enhance the functional efficiency of the technical institutes located in the far-flung areas of NER, which will improve the quality of education and capacity building at grass-root level and change the lives of common people of NER.  

Prof Anil D Sahasrabuddhe said the objectives of the MoU was also to mentor AICTE-approved technical institutions under the mentorship of IIT Guwahati to develop projects for funding in critical areas such as solar energy, water problem and internet connectivity. The MoU will enable a sustained institutional framework for collaboration between AICTE and IIT Guwahati. 

The Phase-I of the project under the existing MoU was successfully implemented to empower the institutes of North-East in writing project proposals, procurement process through mentoring. This will be continued till the successful installation and utilisation of the facilities in the next Phase. The Phase-II of the project will also include facilitating infrastructure for internet connectivity, along with solar power and water supply with wider coverage of needy institutions and mentoring for MODROBS and RPS schemes. 

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