The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday gave its nod for continuation of the Social and Infrastructure Development Fund beyond 2007-08. This is to ensure that government initiatives in social and infrastructure development do not suffer for want of funds. The initiatives taken so far include upgrading 1,396 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), training farmers, employment for the physically challenged, provision of means-cum-merit scholarships, groundwater recharge, insurance for landless households and support to institutes of historical, cultural, economic and agricultural significance. A government spokesperson said Rs. 6,000 crore would be provided for the Fund this year. It would be augmented as and when necessary. The Cabinet gave its approval for increasing the block grant for the seven Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore from this fiscal. It will be over and above the level approved by the Cabinet in June 2005 with an ad hoc amount. Of the increased amount, Rs.73 crore will be released during 2007-08. The remaining increase of Rs.72.5 crore due