Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, laid the foundation stones for six projects and inaugurated a Kendriya Vidyalaya at NIT Rourkela today, in the presence of Shri Jual Oram, Member of Parliament, Sundargarh Lok Sabha Constituency, and other dignitaries.

He stated that these projects will further strengthen the teaching, learning, innovation and skilling environment at the institution. These projects, including hostels for boys and girls, and faculty residences, will boost capacities and make campus life more vibrant in line with National Education Policy 2020.

During the event, Shri Pradhan interacted with young founders and CEOs of start-ups incubated at FTBI, and encouraged them to focus on problem-solving and contribute to the transformative journey towards Viksit Bharat. He also emphasized that the foundation for technology and business Incubation is creating an enabling environment for establishing the start-up ecosystem in India.

In his address, he encouraged students of NIT Rourkela to aspire to become wealth creators. He said that Odisha will mark 100 years as a separate state in 2036 and India will mark 100 years of independence in 2047, for which NIT Rourkela has to lead efforts to further inculcate the spirit of research, innovation and entrepreneurship, and nurture the youth and contribute to the dynamism and prosperity of Odisha and India.

The projects include a boys’ hostel of 1000 capacity, a girls’ hostel of 500 capacity, 1.5 MLD a sewage treatment plant of 1.5 million litres/day (MLD) capacity and 72 faculty residences. These infrastructural projects will be supported by Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). In addition to these, a girls’ hostel of 500 capacity will be built, supported by MCL, and a girls’ hostel of 500 capacity for economically weaker section category, supported by Ministry of Education.

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