Govt may soon upgrade HBTI into university

LUCKNOW: Aiming to give boost to technical education in the state, the SP government is considering to upgade Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI), Kanpur, into a full-fledged university by the end of current academic session. It will be made a non-affiliating, teaching and research university, said technical education minister Shivakant Ojha on the sidelines of 12th convocation of Uttar Pradesh Technical University on Monday.
Sources said the idea has been mooted by chief minister. As per the proposal, the two existing government institutes – UP Textile Technological Institute and Ambedkar Institute of Technology for Handicapped will merged to create Harcourt Butler University of Technology.
Ojha said the state government had upgraded MMM Engineering College, Gorakhpur, into a technical university in 2013 for improvement in technical education. HBTI is the most sought after technical college in the state.
A detailed project report will be placed before the state cabinet for approval after discussion with the chief minister, Ojha said, adding that the government was reviewing the policies and exploring financial resources for upgradation.
Upset with the poor performance of premier government institutions,
Ojha told directors of government institutions to explain reasons for poor performance as compared to the private institutions. Of total 48 medals, only three went to students of government colleges and that too for UP Textile Technological Institute and Institute of Carpet Technology.
Congratulating private institutions, Ojha asked boys to come forward to compete with girls. Thirty medal were bagged by girls while 18 went to boys.
He said chief minister Akhiesh Yadav’s endeavour to set up the IT City will ensure that lakhs of engineers get employment.