The Assam Government has requested the Centre to introduce a Higher Education Mission in the country in the lines of “Sarba Shiksha Abhijan” for improvement of the higher education sector. State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma told newsmen in Guwahati that introduction of such a mission would help in improvement of the overall standard of higher education in the country. He also demanded that the Centre should provide funds to the state universities through the University Grants Commission (UGC). The Education Minister said that the facilities available in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) are much better than the state-run engineering colleges. He pointed out that this disparity would also be reduced if the Centre agrees to launch a higher education mission. He also demanded the Human Resources development Ministry for setting up of a University especially for the minorities living in the state. Around 30 per cent of the total population in Assam constitute by minority community.