Ranchi, July 24: State human resource development minister Bandhu Tirkey, who came back from Delhi today after attending a meeting of HRD ministers of all the states, said he has asked the Centre to set up an Indian Institute of Technology in Jharkhand.

“I have asked the Centre to upgrade the Indian School of Mines (Dhanbad) into an Indian Institute of Technology. I have even asked it to open technical colleges specifically for women,” said Tirkey.

He said as the admission in ISM, Dhanbad, is made through an all India entrance examination, the institute could be upgraded into an IIT.

The high-level meeting of HRD ministers chaired by Union HRD minister Arjun Singh began on Wednesday and ended today. Tirkey, who was upbeat after the meeting, said the Union government is serious about establishment of colleges and institutions for changing the scenario of higher education.

The Centre has asked the state government to prepare and submit the detailed project report (DPR) for setting up a sports university, forest college and visual and performing art college in the state.

The Centre has also asked the state to increase the gross enrolment ratio of students in colleges. It would fund the establishment of 12 colleges for that, sources said.