Kolkata: Proposals to set up an artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI & ML) lab at Jadavpur University, revamp the university guest house and Gandhi Bhavan, financial help for seminars and support departments to repair buildings and buy equipment were listed at the meeting of Rashtriya Uchchatara Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA 2.0) project monitoring unit meeting on Tuesday. The university will also write to the state higher education department and education ministry to seek six extra months to utilise funds effectively. The state asked JU to utilise Rs 44 crore, sanctioned under RUSA 2.0 by Sept. Under the funding pattern, 60% will be provided by the Centre and 40% the state. A teacher said, “It will be difficult to spend the entire amount by Sept. We can only utilise the money in AMC for equipment or buying software licences or equipment and on seminars. We want to repair some buildings, Gandhi Bhavan, and revamp the guest house to an international standard, but time is a constraint.” Another teacher said, “A proposal of an AI and ML lab has been placed and it will need Rs 8 crore to 9 crore. The challenge is using the money in three months.”
