Kosal Discussion and Development Forum

Balangir to have an govt. institute of hotel management

September 15, 2010 at 3:02 pm sanjibkarmee Leave a comment

Following report is from The Telegraph:

Balangir, Sept. 14: Students aspiring to pursue a career in hotel management will be able to do it without having to step out of the district. If everything goes according to plan, Balangir will soon boast of a government-run hotel management institute — the second in the state after Bhubaneswar.

Principal of Food Craft Institute (FCI) Chandrakant Mahapatra said: “If things work out as planned, Balangir will soon have the second government-funded institute of hotel management in the state after Bhubaneswar. The union government is keen to upgrade the Food Craft Institute in Balangir into an institute of hotel management.”

Mahapatra said to facilitate the process, the Centre had demanded transfer of FCI land to the tourism department. It also demanded that FCI be re-registered as an hotel management institute under the Society Registration Act. “We are working on the two criteria. The land transfer process has been expedited. I am going to Cuttack today for registration related work,” he told The Telegraph.

He further said that the institute would be known as State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM) and the Centre has assured to spend Rs 12 crore on infrastructure.

“The Centre will provide the infrastructure and the state government will have expenses for running the institute. The institute will offer BSc degree course in hospitality and hotel administration (HHA) and students will have to take an all-India entrance test to get admission,” Mahapatra said.

Started in 2004, FCI offers diploma in food production, food and beverage service, front office operation and housekeeping operation. It also renders technical advice to the hotel and catering industry. The institute was adjudged the best among all the FCIs in 2008-09.

Soumyakanta Panda, a student in food production, stood first in the country. The tourism department awarded him a gold medal and Rs 5,000 for his achievement.

The FCI also offers short-term courses from time to time. At present, it offers short courses on hospitality training under the “Hunar Se Rozgar” programme.

“These are free courses in food production and food and beverage service. During the training period, the institute provides free uniform and free food,” Mahapatra said.

He added: “There is also provision for stipend of Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 for the courses. But it is subject to 90 per cent attendance by the trainees. The Centre has provided Rs 10.51 lakh for the programme and we expect the two courses to churn out at least 200 skilled people.” After training, students will be provided placement.

Entry filed under: Balangir-Titilagarh-Patanagarh, Food Craft Institute, Balangir, Higher Education Zone, Institute of Hotel Management, Technical and Management Institutes.