Financial Support

1. Introduction

The Tenth Plan is being launched at a time when the country is in the process of major economic and technological changes based on the policy of liberalisation and privatisation and at the same time, when emphasis is laid on rural development. In the changed scenario, the educated human resource, having the latest knowledge and skill will be in greater demand for participation in the social and economic development of the country. This, in turn, will build up pressure on universities and colleges for providing trained human resource by introducing career oriented courses and ensuring the quality and relevance of education. Information technology is further contributing to this change and will have a major impact on the structure, management and mode of delivery of the education system.

If we accept that our national goal is sustainable development with equity and social justice in a pluralistic and democratic social order, the context of education and its relevance must be derived from it and, in turn, education must become a very important area of national planning and facilitated to promote these goals. As we have already stepped in to twenty first century, we need to re-examine the relation of education with the social and economic order and its relationship to the immediate community in which it operates. It has to provide access to assure equity, at the same time, develop a qualitative education in which the products of the system are to develop knowledge, skills, appropriate values and attitudes, not only for immediate tasks as adults but also has the ability for flexibility and innovation, as the new century will usher in developments not known to us today. Life long education will have to become a reality to enable the people to meet the constantly emerging newer demands.

• In the X Plan, emphasis is laid to reduce disparities between urban/rural, forward/backward, by supporting universities located in backward areas. However, these supports have to be supplemented by the proper utilization of available resources in a planned manner and by maximising the co-operative use of resources. Also to increase the access and equity for marginalised groups like women, SC/ST, backward and minority groups.
  
  

• Majority of universities, although facing very serious problems in their development, have neither a reliable information base nor a mechanism for analysis. Many universities have a lack of information for planning a decision making process. It is therefore, warranted that universities attach greater importance to setting up management information system (MIS) in more meaningful manner to ensure efficient and effective academic, administrative and financial management which is relevant to the needs of the students and the country for its development.