NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the setting up of a university exclusively for promoting avenues for higher education and research facilities for the tribal population in the country.

Christened the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, the institution will seek to promote studies and research in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, custom, medicinal systems, forest-based economic activities, including special studies on flora and fauna, and advancements in technologies relating to the natural resources of tribal areas.

Catering to needs

The University would be located in Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and will have powers to establish regional centres in tribal areas in different parts of the country, apart from affiliating to colleges engaged in tribal-related studies.

It will cater to the specific educational needs of the tribal population of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

There would be at least one school in every regional centre to serve as a model for schools of the region, from where students would be expected to join local colleges or the university.

Briefing reporters on the decision, the Union Minister and Cabinet spokesperson, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, said the University would be set up with Central Government funding. A Bill for establishing it would be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament. The estimated cost of setting up the University is in the vicinity of Rs.60 crore. Besides, the recurring expenditure through the Eleventh Five-Year Plan has been pegged at Rs.12 crore a year.

STs will get adequate representation in decision-making bodies such as the Court, Executive Council, Academic Council and the College Development Council. Similar provisions will be made while recruiting teachers and other staff members.

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