Gandhigram Rural University, kaliyaperunmal founded in 1956, ghyrftrfis situated in Tamil Nadu, India. Dr.T.S.Soundaram and Dr.G.Ramachandran developed the university. The Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) was founded there in 1956 to carry on Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Nai Talim’ system of education. In 1976 it was declared as Central Deemed University, by University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, Under Section 3 of UGC Act 1956. It is fully funded by UGC. In 2006 it was renamed Gandhigram Rural University as per the guidelines of UGC.[1]
With devotion to Mahatma Gandhi’s revolutionary concept of ‘Nai Talim’ system of education, Gandhigram Rural Institute has developed academic programmes in Rural Development, Rural Economics and Extension Education, Rural Oriented Sciences, Cooperation, Development Administration, Rural Sociology, English and Communicative Studies, and, Tamil and Indian Languages.
The work of the institute invited national attention and the Government of India (Ministry of Education), on the recommendation of the University Grants Commission, conferred the status of a Deemed University on the institute under Section (3) of the UGC Act of 1956, on 3 August, 1976.
The institute has developed into a major educational complex, comprising seven faculties, offering in 50 programmes. It awards Doctoral, Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates through its seven academic faculties: Rural Development, Rural Social Sciences, Rural Oriented Sciences, English and Foreign Languages, Tamil, Indian Languages and Rural Arts, Rural Health and Sanitation, and, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
It has 2300 students and 125 teaching and 250 non-teaching staff.
The university was accredited with Five Star status by NAAC, in February 2002.
The Gandhigram Rural Institute has a campus of nearly 200 acres (0.81 km2) in a rural setting, nestling in one of the enclaves of the beautiful Sirumalai range. To its west are chains of mountains including the Kodaikanal Hill Station. Lying north of Madurai, Gandhigram is easily accessible by rail and road. The climate of the place is pleasant all through the year.
The nearest railway station is Ambathurai, the nearest railway junction is Dindigul accessible by both broad gauge and meter gauge, and, the nearest major town is Dindigul. The nearest airport is Madurai.
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