Gondwana Varsity To Fulfil Engineering Dreams Of Gadchiroli Tribals
2
3
4
5
6
Nagpur: Gondwana University has launched the University Institute of Technology (UIT) in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra's tribal heartland, with full financial support from Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd.
The institute will offer free diploma-level technical education to tribal students from some of the district's most remote and Maoist-affected areas.
President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone of the institute on July 5, 2023. "Admissions are through the Common Admission Procedure (CAP) conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE). So far, 60 students have confirmed their seats, including 40 from Hedri and surrounding villages who have never stepped outside their area — some will be visiting Gadchiroli city for the first time," said vice-chancellor Dr Prashant Bokare.
The institute is expected to be a boon for talented students in backward areas long haunted by violence, where access to quality education often requires traveling long distances.
UIT will operate from a refurbished building on a newly allotted 170-acre government campus near Adapalli, where Lloyds is funding the complete renovation. "The old structure is being converted into a modern facility with classrooms, labs, a library, and a computer center," said Prashant Mohite, a member of the university's management council.
Registrar Anil Hirekhan said awareness campaigns are underway to encourage more tribal youth to apply. "We're hopeful of more aspirants in the upcoming CAP rounds. Many bright students in this region drop out due to financial hardship or their families' reluctance to send them to other cities. They are often advised to work with their parents in the fields," he said. The diploma programmes being offered include mining, metallurgy, manufacturing, and computer science — fields aligned with regional industry demands and local employment potential.
Lloyds Metals' ₹25 Crore CSR Push To Fully Sponsor Tribal Students
Lloyds Metals, which has transformed the landscape of Gadchiroli with major investments in the mining sector, will fully fund the first batch of 120 tribal students enrolled at the University Institute of Technology (UIT). The mining giant will invest ₹25 crore in the first year under a public-private partnership (PPP) model to cover tuition fees, food, hostel accommodation, and overseas training.
The company also plans to recruit deserving candidates, giving a strong start to their careers.
"The company will sponsor each student at an annual cost of around ₹2 lakh and has guaranteed jobs in its upcoming plants in Gadchiroli, with a monthly salary of ₹40,000," vice-chancellor Dr Prashant Bokare told TOI. He added that this initiative is part of a broader ₹200 crore development plan focused on education and infrastructure in the Naxal-affected region.
Bokare also confirmed that Gondwana University has partnered with Curtin University in Perth, Australia — ranked second globally in mining education — to offer six-month international training to the students. "This global exposure will ensure our graduates are equipped with both technical knowledge and industry-ready skills," he said. To oversee operations, Manish Uttarwar, director of innovation and incubation at Gondwana University, has been appointed as the in-charge director of UIT.
Registrar Anil Hirekhan said academic operations will commence from September 1. "We are in the process of appointing teaching and non-teaching staff. Separate hostels for boys and girls will be constructed with company support. Until then, students will be accommodated in rented private buildings, and Lloyds will bear the full cost," he said.
UIT to Launch BTech, MTech Courses from Next Year
The University Institute of Technology (UIT) will introduce full-time BTech and MTech programmes from the next academic session (2026–27), expanding beyond diploma courses in line with regional industry demands.
Undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) degrees will be offered in mining, metallurgy, manufacturing, and computer science. Gondwana University aims to establish UIT as a premier destination for higher education in the region.
"UIT is not just another technical institute. We are developing it along the lines of IITs and IIMs, with world-class infrastructure and global academic partnerships," said vice-chancellor Dr Prashant Bokare.
The institute is currently upgrading its campus at Adapalli on the Nagpur-Gadchiroli road, with tenders for refurbishment already completed. Planned facilities include modern laboratories and sports infrastructure such as dedicated volleyball and basketball courts.
At the foundation stone ceremony held on July 5, 2023, then deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis announced a ₹20,000 crore investment in the steel sector in Gadchiroli and assured continued government support for skill-based education.
"We're also working to start an airport here. The government will provide sufficient funds to make Gondwana University one of the best in the state," Fadnavis had said.
Then Maharashtra governor and chancellor of state universities, Ramesh Bais, also endorsed the idea of recognising Gondwana University as a tribal university. "The campus is being developed on 170 acres, and the state plans to invest ₹1,500 crore in the coming years. GU has made remarkable progress over 12 years in a district where 39% of the population is tribal," he had said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Indian Express
Days after after passage of Public Security Bill, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis to inaugurate iron ore projects in Gadchiroli
Over a week after the state government passed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill to tackle left-wing extremism, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is slated to inaugurate a slew of projects in Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district on Tuesday. The chief minister will inaugurate the first phase of the 5-Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) iron ore grinding plant and a 10 MTPA slurry pipeline project – the first operational iron ore slurry pipeline in the state – at Hedri in Gadchiroli. CM Fadnavis will also lay the foundation stone for several projects, including a 4.5 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant at Konsari, a 100-bed multispeciality hospital, a school, and a 116-acre Lloyds Township in the Naxal-affected region. Government sources said the 85-km-long slurry pipeline will establish a seamless and environment-friendly logistics link between Hedri and a pellet plant at Konsari, ensuring reliable ore transportation while lowering the carbon footprint by 55 per cent. In a remarkable development, the grinding plant, constructed by the Lloyds Metals & Energy Limited (LMEL), has employed 65 former Naxals – 27 in the administration department, 29 in civil/construction, and nine in the mechanical department. The facility was readied in a year. B Prabhakaran, Managing Director, LMEL, said, '22nd July, 2025, is going to be recorded in the history of Gadchiroli as well as Maharashtra in golden letters… After successful green operations of iron ore mines at Surjagarh, commissioning of the DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) plant and pellet plant at Konsari, now a giant leap of faith is being taken in the form of an integrated steel plant.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Gadchiroli farmers on the cuspof reaping cashew, carbon credits
1 2 3 Nagpur: At Kotta Konda, a remote village in Gadchiroli bordering Chhattisgarh, Dokka Mattami waits for two more years to pass as he watches the 200 cashew nut trees planted on his farm grow. Earning about Rs1 lakh annually by cultivating paddy, Mattami hopes to double his income after the cashew nuts are ready for plucking. Mattami has the largest plantation in the village, as others have begun growing cashew nuts in the area. Amid the govt's attempts to build the Maoists-affected district into a steel hub, agriculture has been quietly working to convert the area, rich in iron ore, into a cashew nut belt like Goa or Konkan. Apart from crop diversification, the govt is also eyeing profits for farmers, who may be able to generate carbon credits through the planation estates. With large-scale steel industry coming up in the district, the plantations are expected to strike a balance and generate carbon credits, according to the agriculture department. The department's team found the hot and humid of Gadchiroli district's interiors a perfect setting for growing cashew nut and other tropical fruits. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo The experiment began three years ago after the state agriculture department tied up with the Cashew and Cocoa Board in Kerala. With the latter's handling, about 608 hectare of land has been brought under cashew cultivation. Earlier, local farmers hardly knew that cashew nuts could be grown in the district. They entirely depended on paddy, which is the single crop taken in almost the entire district. Three years ago, cashew plants were introduced in the villages, and the area has now grown to over 600 hectare, said district superintending agriculture officer Preeti Hiralkar. The dense forest and the number of rivers crisscrossing the district provide a rainforest-like humid climate, which is suitable for growing cashew nuts. Now, with forces destroying the Maoists reign of terror, it was possible for the officials to travel to the interiors. Better roads also helped in taking the cashew crop inside, says another agriculture department officer Anand Ganjewar. Over 15 years ago, a voluntary organisation took a similar initiative, which did not yield much success. However, now the agriculture department hopes to bear the fruit of success, said a source. It takes around 4 to 5 years for the cashew nut tree to be ready for harvest. In the meantime, the department's teams have been regularly visiting farms like that of Mattami to prune the trees. This increases the yields, and meanwhile, shoots that are can also be used for grafting to grow more trees, said Ganjewar. A mother tree orchard of Kesar mango is set to be developed soon which is expected to boost mango farming, said a note shared by the department. A govt nursery established on 10 hectare at Kasansur village of Etapalli taluka has become a feeder point for saplings which are planted across Gadchiroli. Trees of guava, custard apple, and tamarind are being grown through grafting in a plan to make Gadchiroli the orchard of Vidarbha, said agriculture department sources.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Gondwana Varsity To Fulfil Engineering Dreams Of Gadchiroli Tribals
1 2 3 4 5 6 Nagpur: Gondwana University has launched the University Institute of Technology (UIT) in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra's tribal heartland, with full financial support from Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. The institute will offer free diploma-level technical education to tribal students from some of the district's most remote and Maoist-affected areas. President Droupadi Murmu laid the foundation stone of the institute on July 5, 2023. "Admissions are through the Common Admission Procedure (CAP) conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE). So far, 60 students have confirmed their seats, including 40 from Hedri and surrounding villages who have never stepped outside their area — some will be visiting Gadchiroli city for the first time," said vice-chancellor Dr Prashant Bokare. The institute is expected to be a boon for talented students in backward areas long haunted by violence, where access to quality education often requires traveling long distances. UIT will operate from a refurbished building on a newly allotted 170-acre government campus near Adapalli, where Lloyds is funding the complete renovation. "The old structure is being converted into a modern facility with classrooms, labs, a library, and a computer center," said Prashant Mohite, a member of the university's management council. Registrar Anil Hirekhan said awareness campaigns are underway to encourage more tribal youth to apply. "We're hopeful of more aspirants in the upcoming CAP rounds. Many bright students in this region drop out due to financial hardship or their families' reluctance to send them to other cities. They are often advised to work with their parents in the fields," he said. The diploma programmes being offered include mining, metallurgy, manufacturing, and computer science — fields aligned with regional industry demands and local employment potential. Lloyds Metals' ₹25 Crore CSR Push To Fully Sponsor Tribal Students Lloyds Metals, which has transformed the landscape of Gadchiroli with major investments in the mining sector, will fully fund the first batch of 120 tribal students enrolled at the University Institute of Technology (UIT). The mining giant will invest ₹25 crore in the first year under a public-private partnership (PPP) model to cover tuition fees, food, hostel accommodation, and overseas training. The company also plans to recruit deserving candidates, giving a strong start to their careers. "The company will sponsor each student at an annual cost of around ₹2 lakh and has guaranteed jobs in its upcoming plants in Gadchiroli, with a monthly salary of ₹40,000," vice-chancellor Dr Prashant Bokare told TOI. He added that this initiative is part of a broader ₹200 crore development plan focused on education and infrastructure in the Naxal-affected region. Bokare also confirmed that Gondwana University has partnered with Curtin University in Perth, Australia — ranked second globally in mining education — to offer six-month international training to the students. "This global exposure will ensure our graduates are equipped with both technical knowledge and industry-ready skills," he said. To oversee operations, Manish Uttarwar, director of innovation and incubation at Gondwana University, has been appointed as the in-charge director of UIT. Registrar Anil Hirekhan said academic operations will commence from September 1. "We are in the process of appointing teaching and non-teaching staff. Separate hostels for boys and girls will be constructed with company support. Until then, students will be accommodated in rented private buildings, and Lloyds will bear the full cost," he said. UIT to Launch BTech, MTech Courses from Next Year The University Institute of Technology (UIT) will introduce full-time BTech and MTech programmes from the next academic session (2026–27), expanding beyond diploma courses in line with regional industry demands. Undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) degrees will be offered in mining, metallurgy, manufacturing, and computer science. Gondwana University aims to establish UIT as a premier destination for higher education in the region. "UIT is not just another technical institute. We are developing it along the lines of IITs and IIMs, with world-class infrastructure and global academic partnerships," said vice-chancellor Dr Prashant Bokare. The institute is currently upgrading its campus at Adapalli on the Nagpur-Gadchiroli road, with tenders for refurbishment already completed. Planned facilities include modern laboratories and sports infrastructure such as dedicated volleyball and basketball courts. At the foundation stone ceremony held on July 5, 2023, then deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis announced a ₹20,000 crore investment in the steel sector in Gadchiroli and assured continued government support for skill-based education. "We're also working to start an airport here. The government will provide sufficient funds to make Gondwana University one of the best in the state," Fadnavis had said. Then Maharashtra governor and chancellor of state universities, Ramesh Bais, also endorsed the idea of recognising Gondwana University as a tribal university. "The campus is being developed on 170 acres, and the state plans to invest ₹1,500 crore in the coming years. GU has made remarkable progress over 12 years in a district where 39% of the population is tribal," he had said.
