The turnaround can be attributed to investor friendly policy, akin to the one that the Government of India took in 1991 with the New Economic Policy. The several steps that Telangana took includes: speedy clearance aided by a single window, 100 per cent refund on VAT and GST, refund on stamp duty, exemption from Land Ceiling Act, exemption from electricity wheeling charges and not running around to get approval from the State Pollution Control Board.
The most visible area of the state’s renewable energy push has been in public transport system. The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) for instance teamed up with TSREDCO to install solar rooftop systems on the bus stations, bus depots and workshops. In all, 97 bus depots and 364 bus stations have been covered and the savings are over Rs 2 crore per annum. What is more! It resulted in reduction in carbon emissions by 7,300 tonnes a year.
Uplifting India’s edTech sector that has already been at the surge for the last two years, FM Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced plans to launch a digital university, to be built on a hub and spoke model, to provide education in different Indian languages and formats.
“A digital university will be established to provide access to students across the country for world-class quality universal education with personalized learning experience at their doorsteps. The best public universities and institutions in the country will collaborate as a network of hub-spokes,” Sitharaman said in her Budget speech.
She also announced the expansion of the PM eVidya one class-one TV Channel’ programme from 12 to 200 TV channels. Sitharaman said that expansion of the eVidya programme will enable all states to provide supplementary education in regional languages for classes 1-12.
Further, Sitharaman announced the launch of DESH-Stack e-portal, a digital ecosystem for skilling and livelihood that will skill, reskill, or upskill people through online training and provide trusted skill certifications based on an application programming interface (API), as well as payment to identify related jobs and business opportunities.
Let’s hear the Edtech Leaders mouth-
Mr Aakash Chaudhry, Managing Director, Aakash Educational Services Ltd.
“To effectively bridge the learning gap created due to the pandemic, efforts such as setting up of the digital university, providing high-quality e-content, expansion of ‘One class, one TV channel’ under the PM e-Vidya scheme, equipping teachers with digital tools, creating virtual labs, promoting critical thinking will not only improve learning outcomes but will also provide students access to world-class universal education with a personalized learning experience at their doorsteps.The budget aptly addresses last-mile delivery reach with a strong focus on empowering teachers through digitization and the necessity to train students in sync with global standards. The 25-year vision will build an open, digital, connected and inclusive India.”
Dr Silpi Sahoo, Chairperson, SAI International Education Group
“As expected the government has well thought to reduce the digital learning gap between the urban and rural areas by introducing ‘1-Class-1-TV channel” covering multiple regional languages, which will not only counter the Learning losses but will bridge the learning gap. The PM’s e-Vidya will be further expanded from 12 to 200 channels to facilitate supplementary learning. For the implementation of NEP 2020 great stress is implied on shifting the focus on Upskilling, therefore the launch of Digital DESH e-portal for skilling, upskilling and reskilling will be the key to newer dynamics. To develop the 21st century skills of critical thinking amongst students, setting up virtual labs and skilling e-labs will be valuable. Setting up of Digital University is a great step towards accessibility of quality world class education for all. As per the NEP 2020, Foreign Universities will be set up and Gujarat will set up the model Foreign University to make education accessible for all.”
Sameer Nigam, CEO and CoFounder, Stratbeans.
“Through the Union Budget 2022, the government has addressed the importance of youth skills in our country, just as we had predicted. By launching the DESH-Stack ePortal, the government is focusing on upskilling and reskilling individuals through online training, which is a critical need. By encouraging individuals to find suitable employment and providing them with entrepreneurial opportunities, this initiative will prove to be the right step in propelling the country to greater heights.More initiatives like this are needed to promote ongoing skill development, sustainability, and increased employee productivity and performance. To prepare India’s workforce to contribute more to GDP per capita, we must maintain this momentum by digitizing processes and promoting skill development.”
Osborne Dsouza, Director & CEO ,Edufiq, EdTech
“The Union Budget 2022 for Education is a continuum for potential GDP growth over the next 25 years and it’s a sign of relief that reflects good governance. Digital DESH, Digital University initiative, One-Class-One channel through PM eVidya for supplementary education in regional languages for rural development and finally with fiber optic connectivity for last mile digital reach in villages are indeed progressive initiatives. PPP (Public Private Partnerships) with Hub-AND-Spoke models for EdTech companies will certainly harmonize better learning outcomes especially on world-class student skill development. Setting up 5 COE (Center of Excellence) is a catalyst to excellence in education on the world stage.”
Swapnil Dharmdhikari, Director & Founder, Splashgain Technology Solutions
”Due to the unprecedented contractions put forth by the Covid-19 crisis, the schools were closed, and the children, particularly in the rural areas, scheduled tribes and other weaker sections have lost two years of education. FM Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned the launch of the Digital DESH e-portal for the skilling, upskilling & reskilling of our youth. This will strengthen access to quality education for the underserved and economically weaker sections of our society.
We at Splashgain are genuinely excited to continue transforming our reputed educational institutions to become new-age digital education hubs that are in step with global trends and are enabling a future-ready learning environment.”