Cabinet approves first all-women university

Named Indira Gandhi National University for Women, the institute will be set up in Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

The country's first university only for women is set to come up at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh with the government today clearing a proposal in this regard.

The university, which would focus on research and higher studies, would be named after late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who represented Rae Bareli during a substantive part of her political career.

At present, the constituency is represented by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The proposal, which received the Union Cabinet's nod today, would be set up at a cost of Rs 500 crore during the 12th Plan Period.

A bill namely the 'Indira Gandhi National University for Women' will be introduced in the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament, I&B Minister Manish Tewari told reporters here, adding that the varsity will be set up following its passage.

The establishment of the varsity would "set the pace for all-round growth and development of women in the country and supplement the efforts of the government for women's empowerment by giving them an increased access to employment oriented basic courses and high-end research," a government statement also said.

Of the total of 121 crore population in the country, there are 58.6 crore women. They constitute 9.5 crore of the population in Uttar Pradesh alone.

Photograph: Rediff Archives