Dharwad, DHNS: The formal inauguration of the Indian Institute of Technology-Dharwad (IIT-Dh) saw a rare bonhomie among leaders of various political parties who vowed to make IIT-Dh a world class institute.

After inaugurating the institute, Union Human Resources Development Minister Prak­a­sh Javadekar said that to promote innovation in the field of technology and industries, the Union government would shortly launch a new scholarship programme for students of IITs.

Under the new programme, the Centre would invite innovative ideas from students and the best among the selected students would be given a scholarship of Rs 60,000 per month for five years. The scheme would encourage students to come out with innovative ideas to help the growth of industries and related fields. Students can turn entrepreneurs while staying in hostels. “You sell your ideas, we will fund them,” Javadekar told students. He said the Centre would provide all help to construct the permanent campus for the IIT-Dh, the 23rd IIT in the country. Responding to demands by state ministers for special funds to IIT-Dh, he said the new campus would come up at a greater pace than expected.

However, he did not respond to the Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi’s demand for providing 25% quota for the students of the host states in the IITs.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government had provided 470 acres for IIT-Dh free of cost. He told Javadekar that the state gover­n­ment would welcome all initiat­ives of the Centre to promote higher education and offered to provide sufficient land free of cost for such institutes.