Award of Ignou Degree Under Project Gyandeep

Convocation for Award of IGNOU Degree Under Project Gyandeep
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 18:9 IST
Convocation function for award of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) degree to Personnel Below Officer’s Rank (PBOR) of Indian Army was conducted at DRDO Bhawan on 21 Apr 2010. The chief guest of the function was Lieutenant General Mukesh Sabharwal, PVSM,AVSM*,VSM, Adjutant General, Indian Army and Shri VN Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor IGNOU, and the Guest of Honour was Lieutenant General VK Chaturvedi, AVSM,SM, Director General (Manpower Planning & Personnel Services). The function was also graced by the presence of Lieutenant General P Mohapatra, AVSM, ADC, Signal Officer-in-Chief & Senior Colonel Commandant, Corps of Signals, Major General SP Kochhar, AVSM, SM,VSM, Additional Director General Personnel Services, and Col Commandant Corps of Signals Brig SK Pillai, VSM, Commandant Community College, 1 Signal Training Centre.

The Government, vide DOP&T Office Memorandum No 15012/8/82-Estt(D) dated 12 Feb 86 stipulated that matriculate PBOR of Indian Army, who have completed 15 Years of service will be eligible for employment in group ‘C’ & ‘D’ jobs in the Government where graduation is an essential requirement. However, the number of vacancies that come up in Government agencies where the above stipulation can be applied is very less. Most institutions or establishments in the private sector or public domain insist on mark sheet and certificates, provision for which do not exist in the Government Order dated 12 Feb 86. So a need was felt to bridge this gap and empower PBOR of Indian Army by arming them with the requisite diploma / degree based on the ‘in service training’ undergone by the PBOR right through his service career.

Thus Project GYANDEEP was launched based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Army and IGNOU on 04 Sep 09. The project was dedicated to the Nation by the Honourable President of India on 19 Nov 2009. The aim of the project is to confer educational certification to PBOR of the Indian Army by according recognition to the “in service” training carried out by individuals during the entire span of their service career. The aim is also to empower all PBOR by arming them with a diploma/degree so as to facilitate a second career post retirement. This programme has the potential to transform the post-retirement life of soldiers by equipping them with a formal qualification and preparing them for competitive job avenues.

PBOR who wish to register for award of diploma/degree can do so through their respective Regimental Centres, all of which have been registered as Army-IGNOU Community Colleges with IGNOU. These community colleges will function as autonomous institutes in instituting academic, training and administrative responsibilities etc and at any time will not seek affiliation to IGNOU. The community colleges will identify academic programmes to be offered to the community of soldiers for this program on the basis of a need analysis of the local job requirements and opportunities and incorporate these findings into the curriculum, and if so required, take assistance from IGNOU in identifying such academic programmes. The Community colleges will abide by the norms and guidelines defined for the scheme by IGNOU, whereby IGNOU has the sole authority for modifying the terms and conditions of the community college scheme.

Project Gyan Deep will be a Win-Win-Win Scenario for all Stakeholders
IGNOU
• Rolls increase by 1.2 Million Students.
• Service to Soldiers.
• Turnover in one year– 50,000 soldiers.
• Increase community colleges & campus.
• Addition of new courses immediately-study material available.
Army
• Vast training curriculum recognised & interfaced.
• Existing Government orders formally interpreted.
• Welfare measure.
• Gainfully utilises resources.
Individual
• Meets aspirations.
• Formal parchment.
• Helps rehabilitate.
• Advances education.
• Degree from reputed National University.
Project Gyan Deep will thus be a:
• A small step for each soldier.
• A giant step for the Indian Army.
* A great contribution to Higher Education.
S Om Singh/RPA/DS
Convocation for Award of Ignou Degree Under Project Gyandeep