Dharmendra Pradhan lays foundation stone for Central Tribal University, Andhra Pradesh

NEW DELHI: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan set the foundation stone for the permanent campus of Central Tribal University (CTU) Andhra Pradesh in Vizianagaram district, on Friday.

The foundation stone was laid in the presence of chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The CTU will be constructed in an area measuring 561.88 acres and at a cost of Rs 834 crore in Mentada and Dattirajeru Mandals of Saluru constituency.

Speaking at the event, Pradhan said: “The university will foster tribal music, art, food, horticulture, millets and other locally important aspects of the state. This university will also promote skills, sports, research as well as applied emerging technology. Moreover, as per the National Education Policy 2020, the university will also provide education in mother tongue which is essential for learning.”

Another step towards fulfilling PM @narendramodi ji’s dream of making tribal welfare a concrete reality.

Permanent campus of Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh, foundation stone for which was laid today in the presence of Hon. CM Shri @ysjagan, will ensure the progress… pic.twitter.com/JFfRfP5nDL

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 25, 2023

Pradhan also called for a collaboration between CTU AP and Central University of Odisha for research and strive to impart education for all tribal students across India. “ I want VC Kattimani to collaborate with the Central University of Odisha and provide education to tribal students,” he said. “Like Chandrayan-3, I hope the students of this university become known world-wide.”

Officially established in 2019 through the Central Universities (Amendment) Act, 2019, the CTU has so far functioned on a temporary campus located in the outskirts of Vizianagaram for the past four years.

Expressing gratitude to the education minister, Vice Chancellor T V Kattimani said: “This university is going to bring a huge change in higher education in Andhra Pradesh. The university will be a beacon of hope for all students, especially for tribals, transgenders and Telugu speaking students who will be catered. The university will provide not just education but skills to its students so that they are able to find jobs once they graduate.”

The CTU offers 14 postgraduate and undergraduate programmes and has 13 different departments.