The Aryans Group has announced the setting up a management institute near Rajpura and the Doaba Group of Colleges will open an engineering college for girls. The Rayat & Bahra Group has also announced two engineering colleges for girls, of which one will be at its campus in Sahauran, Kharar.

The initiative has been taken to encourage more girls to take up technical education. At present, technical institutes have only around 40 per cent girls.

The relaxations offered are lucrative for educationists. For those starting engineering institutes, instead of the requisite 10 acres, 5 acres are deemed sufficient for a girls’ college in rural areas.

While the number of seats sanctioned by AICTE for co-educational engineering colleges is 240, in case of all-girls’ colleges, this has been increased to 300.

The Refundable Performance Guarantee Fee (RPGF) has been reduced by 20 per cent. In case of coed institutes, RPGF for engineering colleges is Rs 35 lakh, while for management schools it is Rs 15 lakh.

Anshu Kataria, chairman of Aryans Group said: “Our initiative for an all-girls’ management institute received positive response from parents. Earlier, girls used to go for BEd, but job opportunities are not available. A professional course is a better option. To help girls adjust to work environment, we will be giving special training.”