About 22 per cent of colleges in the state Rajasthan are for 'girls only' which is the highest percentage in any state.  This year 31 new girls colleges ' title=' girls colleges '>girls colleges have opened in the state.  With which the number of girls colleges ' title=' girls colleges '>girls colleges has gone up to 530.

 

Girls have overtaken boys in the state in terms of getting higher education.  There is a college for girls in almost every district of Rajasthan.

 

The state is dependent on these institutions as a powerful medium for girls' education.

 

Kota is the first girls college of its kind in the state, where the teaching and non-teaching staffs are all women.  This means that from the peon to the headmaster and from the security guard to the sweeper, all are women.

 

The popularity of these girls colleges ' title=' girls colleges '>girls colleges can be gauged from the fact that these are not only institutions where only seats are filled, but the girls colleges ' title=' girls colleges '>girls colleges of the state also perform better in terms of performance in academic and non-academic sector. Even the absenteeism rate in these colleges is quite low.

 

In view of the increasing trend towards higher education among girls, the state government has now started implementing the scheme of setting up girls colleges ' title=' girls colleges '>girls colleges in all the divisional headquarters of the state. 

 

Private institutions have also emerged as a successful model in promoting and improving the education of girls in Rajasthan.  Among the private universities dedicated to girls are Vanasthali Vidyapeeth (Tonk), IIS University (Jaipur), and Jyoti Vidyapeeth Women's University (Jaipur).  Students from all over the country come here for study.

 

"Banasthali Vidyapeeth was established about 86 years ago when there was no concept of girl child education.  Today it is the only institute in India which has maintained its place in the international ranking. Banasthali's unequaled higher education and excellence can be gauged from the fact that the institute has given the country the "first" woman in various fields," Prof. Ina Shastri, Vice Chancellor of Banasthali Vidyapeeth, said in a special conversation with Sahara Samay. 

 

The contribution of Rajasthan in the field of technical education of girls in the country is also quite important.  There are many leading engineering colleges in the state where only girls are given education.  Among them, apart from Banasthali Vidyapeeth,  Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women, Jaipur and Government Women Engineering College, Ajmer are prominent.

 

In a special conversation with Sahara Samay, Prof. Ina Shastri, Vice Chancellor of Banasthali Vidyapeeth said that Banasthali's education is not only "women's education" but "education for women" which is unique in the sense. 

 

"Here in eight branches, B.Tech. degree is given to the girl students.  Chemical Engineering and Mechatronics branch is not available in any other women's institute other than Vanasthali.  The School of Automation here has modern and best laboratories in the country and a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence center will soon be ready which will be unique," Prof. Ina Shastri said in an exclusive interaction with Bijendra Singh of Sahara News Network.

 

Jaipur-based Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women is also making an important contribution in providing technical education to girls.  Here, not only Rajasthan but students from all over the country are studying in various engineering courses. 

 

Dr. Arihant Khicha, Director, Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women, said in a special conversation with Bijendra Singh of Sahara Samay that new colleges are being established in view of the increasing trend in technical education among girl students, in which the State Government and Technical Education Department is giving full cooperation.

 

According to Dr Arihant Khicha, "In order to promote women's education in Rajasthan, the first women's engineering college "Rajasthan College of Engineering for Women" Jaipur was established in Jaipur by educationist Dr. Jitendra Singh.  Chairperson Bina Singh has made an important contribution in making this institute excellent."

 

"Today this college is counted among the best engineering colleges of the country.  Apart from providing better technical education to the girls, special attention is also being paid to their all-round development and placement,” Dr. Arihant Khicha said in a special conversation with Sahara Samay. 

 

Obviously, the flame that Rajasthan has ignited in the field of girls' education is spreading not only in Rajasthan but in the entire country and is strengthening women's empowerment.