Chandigarh: To improve the reach of higher education in rural areas of the state, the Punjab Government has announced that a degree college will be opened in all rural development blocks in the next 10 years.

The Punjab government yesterday decided to open degree colleges in all rural development blocks in the next two Five-Year Plans.

A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting held here to review functioning of the Higher Education Department. The meeting also decided to treat the outlay on rural colleges as charge on the Rural Development Fund.

First in the series of meetings, which the Chief Minister will chair for the review of the working of various departments, focused on the problems faced by the colleges and universities in the state and encourage suggestions on solutions.

Badal also instructed senior officers of the department to visit at least two colleges every month for assessment and resolution of the problems of such colleges. The Chief Minister directed all posts of lecturers and principal in the colleges be filled before the next session. Similarly, promotions in the department were also directed to be effected in two months. Instructions were also issued to clear arrears of grants-in-aid payable to state-aided private colleges in the next quarter.