Bhubaneswar, March 3: The laid-back attitude of the Union human resource development ministry has left the state higher education department, which was expecting a major overhaul with World Bank funds, high and dry.

Despite constant reminders by the department, the HRD ministry has not yet forwarded the proposal to the department of economic affairs (DEA), thereby blocking financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1019.70 crore.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik yesterday wrote to Union HRD minister Smriti Irani about the proposal titled "Achieving excellence in higher education in the state of Odisha". He stated in the letter that the state government submitted a copy of the preliminary project proposal to the ministry on October 28 last and had followed it up with two reminders on December 18 and January 20 this year.

It had also submitted the debt sustainability certificate for the externally-aided project as required by the DEA. In his letter, Naveen requested the Union minister to forward the proposal to the DEA soon.

On October 30, a team of World Bank officials met senior higher education officials and held discussions on issues relating to the higher studies in the state.

Among the topics discussed were development models to increase the gross enrolment ratio. The state's current ratio is a low 18 per cent among students pursuing graduate and postgraduate studies. Following the meeting, the government prepared the proposal and sent it to the Centre for approval. It included models to help the government improve higher education aimed at making students more employable.

Besides, creating centres of excellence in select colleges and university departments were also proposed.

"The World Bank officials have committed to help us improve higher education quality. We will also utilise the funds to fill vacancies, improve information technology and construct HRD centres," higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahi said.

The officials had also assured financial support to disadvantaged and meritorious students through scholarships, upgrade qualifications and skills of new and existing faculty members through a state-run institute for higher education training and research and extend technical assistance to government-run higher education institutions to gain National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation.