President to lay foundation stone for Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics

by news
•
March 31, 2017

Bengaluru: President Pranab Mukherjee would lay the foundation stone for Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics. The function would be held in the Banquet Hall of Karnataka Vidhana Soudha at 1.30 pm on April 14.

“We are grateful to President Pranab Mukherjee for accepting our invitation to lay the foundation stone for Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics,’’ Karnataka Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayaraddi told reporters on Friday.

The Karnataka State government intends to make this an autonomous institution of international standard. Bangaluru University had made an attempt to establish Dr Sitaram Jindal School of Economics in partnership with Jindal Group but the proposal had to be put on the back burner due to the stiff resistance from various sections of the society.

“We approached the Jindal Group but the latter said they are not interested. With the Jindal Group cancelling its plan, the Karnataka government has taken the initiative to establish Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics,’’ Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi said.

The Karnataka State Cabinet has already given administrative approval for establishing Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics at a cost of Rs 150 crore in the phase 1. This include the main administrative block, student hostels and auditorium, three seminar halls, residential accommodation for the regular faculty, hostels for visiting research scholars, cafeteria, some recreational facilities, libraries, reading room, IT infrastructure.

“More than 43 acres of land in Jnanabharathi campus has been handed over to the Bengaluru Dr B R Abmedkar School of Economics. Initial design and drawings for the establishment of the institution are ready. We had sought the assistance of London School of Economics (LSE) to set up programs, faculty and other facilities. A team from LSE have visited Bengaluru. They have agreed in principle to provide technical support,’’ the minister said.

Retired IAS officer Anup K. Pujari has been appointed as special officer of the Bengaluru Dr B R Ambekdar School of Economics, which is to begin admissions from the 2017-18 academic year.

“We are mulling to admit around 50 students for the 2017-18 academic year but a final decision on the admissions is yet to be taken,’’ Anup K Pujari said.