This was a lively debate. Expect few leaders everyone spoke within the scope of the topic. Otherwise, now day TV debates are often turning brawl and theatrical stage. I observed that all most all leaders spoke in Kosli language. They should also use Kosli language in assembly; so that people of western Odisha will understand them. The discussion was about health, education and human resource development in western Odisha (Balangir and Kalahandi Medical college, AIIMs and other centrally funded institutes); industrialization; pollution in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda belt; KBK issues, Dadan sramik; malnutrition; starvation death; unemployment; Gadjats; feudal mentality of political leadership; and Kosal state demand.
People of western Odisha feel alienated because their voice is not heard by the mainstream Odia media. Thanks to the Kanak TV for providing a platform to people of western Odisha (although one speaker was accusing the organizers about the choice of the title and divide and rule policy).
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will set up a medical college and an engineering college in the State as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Informing about the proposed institutes, Energy Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the State Government has lauded the CSR proposal of NTPC. The location for the colleges are yet to be identified and talks are on, the Minister informed.
National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC), India’s largest power generation utility, has sought 15 acres of land from the Orissa government to set up a medical college. The company also intends to set up a power engineering institute in the state.
The locations and other specifics of these two institutes are yet to be finalized.
“NTPC has sought 15 acres of land for setting up a medical college in the state. It has also evinced interest in setting up a power engineering institute. The company has written to us, requesting for land allotment and we will hold an inter-departmental meeting soon to decide on the site for the medical college and the power engineering institute. The details of the medical college are yet to be finalized but as per the norms of Medical Council of India, they have to start with a 300-bed facility”, an official source told Business Standard.
NTPC which had proposed to set up two super thermal power plants to be set up at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district and Darlipalli in Sundergarh district and also add 1320 Mw to its thermal power station at Talcher, was keen to sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the state owned Grid Corporation of Orissa (Gridco).
The PPA was to be signed between NTPC and Gridco for a period of 25 years. NTPC is setting up a 3200 Mw power plant at Gajamara and 4800 Mw power plant at Darlipalli.
One of the conditions set by the state government for signing of the PPA was the setting up of a medical college and a power engineering institute. The second condition was allocation of 50 per cent power for the state from the two proposed super thermal power stations.”NTPC has claimed that it has got the approval of the Centre for allocation of 50 per cent of power for the host state. We have asked the company to produce a copy of the letter of approval of the Centre”, the source added.
The proposed super thermal power projects of NTPC at Gajamara and Darlipalli were scheduled to be operational by 2016-17. The Gajamara project needed 2900 acres of land and NTPC claimed to have conducted the gram sabha for this project in March this year.
This is a good initiative by NTPC. The Orissa govt. must ask other industries to establish medical and engineering colleges in the industrial zones of western Orissa. In particular, such industry sponsered institutes need to be established in Sambalpur-Jharsuguda and Rourkela-Sudergarh belt.
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to enhance scholarships for college students and those pursuing technical courses.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here today. Plus Two, degree, post-graduate, engineering, medical, dental, agriculture and veterinary students will be eligible for the enhanced scholarships.
It was also decided that more students will be given scholarships from the current academic year. The junior merit scholarship for the Plus Two students has been increased from ` 40 to ` 300 per month. Senior merit scholarship for degree students has been hiked from ` 50 to ` 500 per month.
The PG merit scholarship will be ` 1000 per month. This has been enhanced from ` 60. The scholarship for students pursuing engineering, medical, dental and other technical studies will be ` 10,000 per year.
The income limit of the parents for availing the scholarship for their wards has been enhanced to ` 4.5 lakh per year from ` 24,000. Interested students can apply for the scholarship to the Higher Education Department through their respective colleges.
While 5000 students will be given the scholarship at the Plus Two level, this will benefit 1000 students at the degree level.
At PG level, the scholarship will be given to 500 students. Besides, 10,000 students from different technical courses will be extended the scholarship.
The Chief Minister underscored the need for creating awareness among the students about the new scholarship structure.
He said the students should get the scholarship amount at the right time.
Higher Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Additional Development Commissioner Rabinarayan Senapati, Principal Secretary in the Finance Department Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Secretary, Higher Education Department, Madhusudan Padhi, and senior officials were present.
SAMBALPUR: The privatisation and outsourcing spree has not spared Sambalpur University either. If the varsity authorities have their way, students will soon find their examination and evaluation done by a private agency. And this has stirred up a hornet’s nest. The student community and the intelligentsia expressed strong resentment at the move to outsource examination.
The university is planning Integrated Examination Management System under which a private agency will be hired. The agency will look after all the exam-related activities __ registration of examinees, admit cards, setting question papers, valuation of answersheets and issuing provisional marksheets. The system is to be implemented at the university’s 220-affiliated colleges, besides various departments. Once implemented, this would effectively end the work of six examination cells, six confidential cells, one private cell and one distance education cell that are involved in conducting examinations of around 65,000 students every year.
Sources said three south-based IT firms __ Mind Largx Infotech Limited (Bangalore), Merit Trac Services Private Limited (Bangalore) and Om Shanti Soft Solution Private Limited (Hyderabad) had evinced interest in the project after the varsity floated a tender in July. Although university authorities have not yet finalised the deal, the move has led to public outcry. Former Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University Prof A P Padhi and All-India University Employees’ Federation president Bhawani Hota have asked the authorities to first evolve a consensus. University syndicate member Karunakar Supakar said he would raise the issue at the syndicate.
The decision has also come in for stiff opposition from Sambalpur University Employees’ Association, All-Koshal Students’ Union, Sambalpur Chhatra Vikash Parishad and Sambalpur unit of NSUI. The NSUI, led by district president Debasis Dash, held a meeting on Saturday and resolved to launch a stir if the decision is not withdrawn. However, university Registrar Dr S S Rath said the proposal is at nascent stage and all aspects will be looked into before taking a final decision.
JHARSUGUDA TOWN is emerging as one of the economic hubs of India. It has many industrial units which need no introduction viz Ultratech Cement of the Aditya Birla Group at Dhutra (India’s largest cement manufacturing company), SMC Power Generation Ltd, Action Ispat Ltd, Eastern Steel and Power Ltd, and SPS Steel and Power Ltd, and Utkal Alumina International Ltd.
Recently, it is reported that Jharsuguda will be the highest electric power producing town of India since industrial giants like Vedanta Aluminum Limited (VAL), Reliance Energy and Sterlite Energy Limited are developing power plants at Jharsuguda.
As Jharsuguda is emerging as the fastest growing town in Orissa, it is also witnessing huge migration of work-force from all parts of India. To cater to this need an airport is essential. The Jharsuguda airstrip was build during World War II. There is a proposal to make this fully operational. However, the state government is yet to realise the importance of this airport as evident from the following highlights as reported by various media sources.
It was reported that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has decided to upgrade the airstrip at Jharsuguda into a full-fledged airport. So, the government has decided to opt for a public-private partnership for the work. In this regard, SREI, a Kolkata based finance company, had expressed interest and was negotiating with the government; but so far nothing has happened.
Recently, the Chief Minister has informed to the Orissa legislative assembly that the AAI is considering the proposal of the state government for developing the Jharasuguda airport and it has asked for the required 815 acres of land free of cost. Responding to this the state government has requested the AAI to scale down their requirement of land as only 734 acres of land is available near the airport.
It is also reported that a private is an obstacle for developing the Jharsuguda airport.
After analysing these reports about Jharsuguda airport; we can come to the conclusion that nothing much has happened in the past ten years. Are these announcements about making Jharsuguda airport operational only sweet talk? Are we are going to see any passenger plane arriving or taking off in the near future? Is this the outcome of the persistent efforts of our leaders?
We urge you to take the following steps to make Jharsuguda airport operational:
Orissa government should provide the required 815 acres of land to the AAI. Providing 734 acres of land might hinder the future expansion of the airport. Moreover, if the government is capable of acquiring land for building industries and dams; why can’t it acquire land for the development of an airport?
Government should complete the land acquisition for Jharsuguda airport at the earliest.
Very soon our neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh will have two international airports. The Orissa government should propose the AAI to make Jharsuguda an international airport. There is also possibility of connecting Jharsuguda with direct flight to China and Korea as Vedanta group is employing many Chinese and Korean nationals at its Jharsuguda plant. This will further encourage Buddhist tourism in the region viz at Ganiapali of Bargarh and Baud town of Western Orissa.
Presently, Jharsuguda airport can accommodate F27 type planes. Therefore, facilitation of small commercial flight should be encouraged.
Orissa government should implement the master plan to be submitted by the administrative staff college of Hyderabad for Jharsuguda town to make it a 21st century city. In addition, the Orissa government should push for establishing some state and national level institutes in this town.
In this regard, immediate operationalisation of Jharsuguda airport is essential to cater the need of whole Western Orissa. This will accelerate the socio-economic condition of this region. Therefore, we urge you to take necessary steps to make this airport ready.
Mr. Naveen Patnaik, honorable Chief Minister, Odisha
Honorable MPs, Odisha
Journalists and Intelligentsia
Sub: Supporting the demand of establishment of an Indian Institute of Management at Sambalpur city
Dear honorable Shri Sibalji,
MHRD and other central Govt. ministries have been establishing various centrally funded institutions in Odisha to make it a developed state. However, most of the centrally funded institution viz. National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and railway medical college are located in Bhubaneswar. So far, the state govt. has not established any centrally funded Institutes in the western part of Odisha.
From decades the people of western Odisha have been demanding the establishment of centrally funded institutes. But nothing is happening as Orissa govt. is continuing to be capital-centric by proposing new central governments institutes in the capital region. However, in principle, it should happen like it is happening in various developed states of India (viz. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, etc). I wish Odisha should follow the example of developed states of our country.
As reported by media Shri Amarnath Pradhan, honourable MP has raised the issue of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Lok Sabha and demanded its establishment in Sambalpur city [1]. This demand is genuine. I wholeheartedly support the demand of Shri Amarnath Pradhan, honourable MP.
Sir,
Kindly, consider the proposal for establishing an IIM at Sambalpur city; which is well connected to all districts of Orissa and all cities of India.
The Sambalpur city of western Odisha is sandwiched between Burla and Jharsuguda. Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region is emerging as a knowledge hub and establishing such an institute will help in cross-fertilization of ideas among the scientists, economists and scholars of humanities and social sciences.
Beside that Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area has many advantages viz.
· Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area is well connected to most of the regions in the state and emerging as a central location for on going industrial activities in Odisha such as Sambalpur – Angul – Cuttack – Bhubaneswar belt, Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela belt, Jharsuguda – Sambalpur – Lanjigarh – Rayagada – Koraput belt, and Sambalpur – Jharsuguda – Korba – Bilaspur-Raipur belt. Apart from the existing Industries, several major industries are coming up in this region including Vedanta Aluminum in Jharsuguda. These Industries will provide an extremely good environment to the students and staffs of Indian Institute of Management for carrying out various management related consulting projects and student internships.
· Sambalpur and Rourkela city area are two major metropolitan areas of the state. Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda is more accessible for students from all the districts of western Orissa.
· The AAI is taking initiatives to establish an airport in Jharsuguda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jharsuguda_Airport). Moreover, this area is well connected to Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Vishakhapatnam, Raipur, Nagpur, Ranchi, and Mumbai by rail.
· The Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area has all the necessary amenities like road connectivity, hotels, malls, restaurants, bookshops and parks which will definitely attract world class faculties for this Institute.
Therefore, the central govt should establish the Indian Institute of Management at Sambalpur city of western Odisha.
The Government of India’s National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) in a report has released the well-being index of India. The same tell about the quality of life in India. This report has mentioned that six districts of Orissa being in the list of worst twenty districts of India. Rayagada district ranks the worst in India followed by Kandhamal, Nuapada, Bolangir, Koraput and Bargarh, all in Western and Southern part of the state, are ranked at 4,9,10 & 19 from the bottom respectively.
It has been many years since the Government. of India has been pumping thousands of Crores as special budget for the welfare of these districts of Western and Southern Orissa through scheme like KBK. Then how is it that after so many years of huge money inflow into these districts there is no change in statistics? Who is accountable for this mishap? Is the Chief functionary of the state not responsible for this?”
Orissa, one of the poorest of states in the Indian union, is inhabited by more than 24% of tribal population concentrated mostly in North-Western, Western and Southern part of the state. Due to the negligence of all successive state governments, the development of these three patches are far behind the Coastal Orissa tract by any parameter even though these regions are full of minerals and natural resources.
In two occasions, during 1936 and 1948, these tribal dominated Western and Southern regions amalgamated into then Orissa division (precisely the present Coastal Orissa) from erstwhile Central and Madras presidency of British ruled India respectively to form Orissa state in the line of linguistic similarities. But, reality is, till now the native people residing in these regions don’t know how to speak the state official language Odiya, which is practiced in Coastal Orissa districts in particular. Vast region of Western Orissa communicate in variants of Sambalpuri language (also termed as Kosli by some) and with numerous tribal languages practiced by the indigenous tribal population. This leads to poor enrolment in school which encourages Odiya as the medium of education and thus a high school dropout rate is seen in these regions. Students are forced to learn Odiya language in school which is different than what they practice in day to day life.
The differentiation between the then Orissa Division (Coastal Orissa) and the newly added Western and Southern regions is well maintained by all successive state Governments, while allocating funds and in developmental works.
Inhabited by app.50% of the state population (17,899,735 as per 2001 Census) and spread in 28.73% of total land of the state (44,355.4 Sq Km), this Coastal Orissa tract is given utmost priority by all the successive state governments and have been enjoying all sorts of developmental works in the name of Orissa. Where as a vast land with more than 71.27% of the total land area of Orissa state (109,992 Sq Km), and with a population of little above half of the state population is depriving basic needs.
It is pity that present state government too, has done nothing to minimize the gap between the coastal and the rest of Orissa in its decade long rule; but increasing it by concentrating every developmental activity in and around the state capital Bhubaneswar. During this government’s tenure, all the national institutes for higher studies and research sanctioned by the central government are established or proposed to establish in and around Bhubaneswar. Due to this capital centric attitude, common masses refer the Chief Minister Nabin Pattnaik as the Mayor of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation than the CM of the state.
In recent development except for the Central University, all the educational and research institutes of national repute, such as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), etc awarded by Central Government for the entire state are located in and around Bhubaneswar. This has brought a distinction for Bhubaneswar as the only city in India to have an IIT, AIIMS and NISER at one location.
Central Government has also proposed to establish a National Innovative University (World Class), National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), ESI Medical College and Hospital, Railway Medical College in Bhubaneswar, and another IIIT in Berhampur in Coastl Orissa, neglecting the rest state.
Existing and proposed Central funded National Institutes and Universities in Orissa:
Rest Orissa Coastal Orissa
1. NIT, Rourkela, Dist. Sundargarh 1. IIT, Bhubaneswar
2. Central University, Koraput 2. IIT – Kharagpur, Bhubaneswar Branch
3. Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, (IIHT), Bargarh 3. National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubanneswar
4. Food Craft Institute, Balangir 4. AIIMS like Institute, Bhubaneswar
5. IIIT, Bhubaneswar
6. National University, Bhubaneswar (proposed)
7. IIIT, Berhampur (Work on progess)
8. Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM), Bubaneswar
9. Institute of Minerals and Material Technology, Bhubaneswar
10. Indian Institute of Mass Communications,(IIMC), Dhenkanal
11. Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack
12. Biju Pattanaik National Steel Institute (BPNSI), Puri
13. Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Bhubaneswar
14. Eastern Regional Language Centre for CILL, Bhubaneswar
15. Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar
16. Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar
17. Regional Medical Research Centre, (RMRC), Bhubaneswar
18. Central Fisheries Institute, Kousalyaganga, Bhubaneswar
19. Regional Research Laboratory,Bhubaneswar
20. National Research Centre for Women in Agriculture (NRCWA), Bhubaneswar
21. Ocean Science and Technology Cell (OSTC), Berhampur
22. National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (NIRTAR), Cuttack
23. National Institute of Design (NID), Bhubaneswar (Proposed)
24. NIFT, Bhubaneswar (Proposed)
If you consider the allotment of health facilities in the state the picture of disparities done towards the rest of the tribal regions of the state gets crystal clear. There is just one state run Medical College, viz, VSS Medical College & Hospital, Burla in Sambalpur for the entire Western Orissa, there are state run SCB Medical college in twin cities of Bhubaneswar – Cuttack , MKCG Medical College in Berhampur, a city just 179 Km from Bhubaneswar by Road and 165 Km by train.
Mahandi Coal Field Ltd. (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, a Central Government entity which has operation in Western as well as Central Orissa, is too establishing a Medical College Hospital in Talcher Town, 150 Km from state Capital Bhubaneswar, with state government’s active persuasion. The defense dept has proposed to set up a medical college in Baleswar, another town in Coastal Orissa with a distance of 198 Km by Road from Bhubaneswar.
State government has recently proposed to upgrade Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar to a Medical College with a hoping budget of 32.5 Crores. It is also been proposed to set up Government. Medical College & Hospital in Baleswar where as the state government is trying to establish 3 Private Medical Colleges in backward tribal dominated Western Orissa in PPP mode since last 15 years through Western Orissa Development Council (WODC) with a financial grant of 5 Crores each. There is no progress seen in establishing these Medical colleges in these backward regions of Orissa.
So, a question instantly arises in mind, “Why private Medical College & Hospital for poor tribal region of Western Orissa, who can’t afford a full meal a day and central and state funded Government. Medical Colleges & Hospitals for Coastal Orissa?” Is this not pure discrimination?
Central and State sponsored Medical Institutions in Orissa
Rest Orissa Coastal Orissa
1. VSS Medical College, Burla, Sambalpur 1. SCB Medical college, Cuttack
2. Medical College under Central University, Koraput 2. SCB Dental College, Cuttack
3. MKCG Medical College, Berhampur
4. Capital Medical College, Bhubaneswar
5. AIIMS, Bhubaneswar (Proposed)
6.ESI Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar (Proposed)
7. Medical College under National Innovative University, Bhubaneswar (Proposed)
8. ECO Railway Medical College, Bhubaneswar (Proposed)
9. Medical College by MCL, Talcher, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd
10. Medical College, Balasore (Proposed by State Government.)
11. Medical College, Balasore (proposed by Defence dept)
Points to notice that Balangir, Kalahandi, in this back ward Western Orissa, many times have created news in national media for starvation deaths. Low-income people in these backward districts can hardly afford the cost of good health care even for their children who suffer from early death, under nutrition and anemia. As against the State figure of 65 infant deaths per 1000 life births, district like Kalahandi in the Western Orissa had 119 infant deaths.
Prevalence of undernourishment among children is also high in these tribal dominating districts. The health situation is really gloomy if we look at maternal death rates. Women in these households work hard at home, in the fields, bear children and do not get the medical attention while giving birth to children.
Occurrence of malaria remains a threat to the people in the tribal areas. As many as 158 blocks in tribal districts, which contribute 70 per cent of the malarial cases, suffer the worst. Sometimes outbreak of mysterious diseases in these regions takes a heavy toll of life. Poverty and deprivation leave very little money with people to spend on the treatment of diseases and illness.
The state government is earning maximum revenue from these under developed tribal belts through mining and industries. When the industries are exploiting and polluting the region, are opening health care units and educational facilities in Coastal Orissa with state government’s active persuasion. The recent Vedanta group promoted World Class University in Puri- Konark Road with a budget of 15,000 Cr and in an area of 6,000 Acre sets the perfect example. Vedanta Industries Ltd has established two Aluminum plants in Western Orissa, the refinery unit and captive power plant at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi District and smelter plant with captive power plant at Jharsuguda, where as it is opening its 100 bed capacity burn and trauma care unit in Bhubaneswar, which i
s at a distance of 400 Km from Jharsuguda and more than 450 Km from Lanjigarh.
Hundreds of crores rupees received from central government in the name of KBK has become a source of exploitation for the state government. The head quarter of the KBK scheme is at the state capital Bhubaneswar, far away from the problems people are facing in their every day life. This century of exploitation by all successive state government since the formation of the state in 1936, towards these tribal pockets has forced them to shout for a separate state of Kosal comprising 11 districts and a sub-division of Western Orissa. Also, the Maoist guerillas are spreading in rest tribal districts in rapid speed taking advantage of this.
These entire exploitation stories remind the colonial era and raise some fundamental questions about democratic rights in India.
Following picture is taken from http://www.dheorissa.in/DHE/consolidated.aspx. This picture clearly shows the injustice of Orissa govt. and Higher Education Task Force (HETF) towards western Orissa. Just look at the density of the institutes in both the region, that is coastal and western Orissa.
For decades people from western Orissa have been pleading to deal with inter-regional horrendous disparity. Solution offered had been to decentralize all state institutions as well as spread whatever is obtained from the central govt. but to no avail. All the centrally funded institutes are located in the coastal belt, now the new recommendation by Higher Education Task Force (HETF) adding salt to the wound of western Orissa people.
The disparity is so stark that one really does not need to count.
Dear Mr. Patnaik and Members of Higher Education Task force
Forming a Higher Education Task force is good development by the state Government. We the members of KDDF, herewith drawing your attention for the consideration of the following matters for the development of higher education in various centers of western Odisha viz. Sambalpur, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Balangir, and Suderdarh.
Political Negligence
Politically, western Odisha or Koshal region of Odisha has been seriously neglected in higher education, most of the new central Government institutions are coming in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and South Odisha region and not a single one is established in Western Odisha which lacks sufficient number of higher educational and research institutions despite consisting a vast area and population. The state Government has at the last moment betrayed for a Central University in Kalahandi and ignored demand of IIT in Sambalpur. Recently ESIC medical college was also not feasible in Balangir whereas National Steel Institute was established in Puri instead of Sundergarh. The continuous political neglect towards Western Odisha should be stopped for the betterment of this region in Higher Education.
Improving Faculties in Existing Major Colleges
Without improving present infrastructure Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education will never enhance. Most of the major colleges in Western Odisha are being neglected by state Government. Presently, there are many regular vacant faculty posts existing in G. M. Autonomous College Sambalpur, Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna, Panchayat College Bargarh, Rajendra Autonomous College Balangir, Government Autonomous College Sundergarh etc. In fact condition of higher education in Western Odisha is further downgraded in last 10 years by directly affecting GER. For example, Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna (GACB) has 38 vacant regular posts at this moment unlike a decade ago. There were 8 faculties serving in Chemistry Department of GACB a decade ago and now only two of them are serving for the whole college. Same is the case in other departments and colleges in western Odisha. Without adequate number of faculties how GER in higher education will improve? We propose that immediately in next one year sufficient number of regular faculties is recruited for the above colleges in Western Odisha on regular basis. As state Government claims most of the time faculties from other parts of Odisha are unwilling to serve in Kalahandi, Balangir and other region of western Odisha, therefore, regular faculties in this region should be recruited in the local level through local level tests opening the possibility for candidates from the whole state.
Unitary Universities and Autonomous Colleges
G. M. Autonomous College Sambalpur and Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna were among first three colleges along with Raveshaw Autonomous College Cuttack chosen by UGC as “Potential Centre of Excellence” in Odisha. Ravenshaw Autonomous College was converted to a Unitary University by the state Government which helps in its growth and getting UGC funding, whereas both G. M. Autonomous College Sambalpur and Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna are still being neglected by the state Government, these two colleges should be immediately converted to Unitary Universities. Similarly Panchayat College Bargarh, Government Autonomous College Sundergarh and Rajendra Autonomous College Balangir should be expanded to full-fledged educational institutes by opening PG courses including Computer sciences, Management, Biotechnology and Nursing.
New Central and State Government Institutions
Since Western Odisha lacks of sufficient number of higher educational institutions and opening new campuses is as expensive as establishing new institution, establishing new central and state Government institutions and upgrading present existing institutions to higher level would be beneficial for Western Odisha in general.
A branch of Central Rice Institute should come-up in Bargarh. An Indian Institute of Management should be established in Sambalpur and steel institute in Sundergarh. National University should be established in western Odisha. Along this line, keeping sentiment of Kalahandi people, the proposed National University in Bhubaneswar should be pursued with the Central Government to establish in Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi. Also, we urge you to establish the proposed Health University Balangir.
Converting to University
BPUT in Rourkela should be converted to a full-fledged science and technology University having education and research in the line of Anna University Chennai. Similarly, Agriculture College at Bhawanipatna should be converted to a full-fledged Agriculture & Animal Husbandry University. The Harishankar and Gandhamardan mountain provides adequate atmosphere to have a University for Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine. We urgue to combine Sri Nrusinghanath Ayurvedic College, Paikmal, Bargarh and the Government Ayurvedic Colleges in Balangir and establish University of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine. VSS medical college should be pursued to be made an AIIMS type institution.
Institutes and Universities needs to be established in different districts of Western Odisha:
The following new institutes need to be established in Western Odisha or Koshal region on the regional basis.
Balangir-Sonepur:
-Health University in Balangir
-Government Medical College in Balangir
-National Institute of Science & Technology, Balangir
-Institute of Biotechnology, Sonepur
-Combine Sri Nrusinghanath Ayurvedic College, Paikmal, Bargarh and the Government Ayurvedic Colleges in Balangir and establish University of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine along the line of National Institute of Ayurveda (http://nia.nic.in/). This institute can have two campus one at Balangir and other one at Bargarh.
Bargarh:
-A branch of Central Rice Research Institute, (http://crri.nic.in/) should be opened at Bargarh area to promote agriculture, in particular rice cultivation as the Bargarh-Sambalpur area is considered as “rice bowl” of Orissa.
– Establishing a unit of National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) (http://www.ncbindia.com/) along with private partners in Bargarh as this institute can have multiple units. Apart from the main center in Delhi; it has its units in Ahmadabad and Hyderabad (http://www.ncbindia.com/units.htm). Bargarh has many cement factories it will promote a lot in expanding expertise in areas like cement manufacturing and building materials.
Boudh-Athamallik:
– Odisha Institute of Management, Boudh
– Institute of Pharmacy, Boudh
– Institute of Nursing, Athamallik
Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda:
-Indian Institute of Management should be established in Burla-Sambalpur- Jharsuguda region
-GM College needs to be upgraded to a unitary university.
-Jharsuguda area has lot of Industries and going to have many more in future. A Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) lab like National Environmental Engineering Research Institute(http://www.neeri.res.in/index.php) should be established in this area. This institute aims to strive providing scientific, industrial research and development that maximizes the economic & environmental and social benefit for the people.
Sundergarh-Deogarh:
-Branch of Institute of Forest Research should be established in Deogarh (see http://www.envfor.nic.in/icfre/icfre.html). Deogarh will be a suitable place for this location; it has dense forest with natural environment. It will be a suitable location for branch of forest research Institute. Ushakothi (Badrama) Sanctuary is also close to Deogarh.
-Up-gradation of BPUT in Rourkela along the line of ANNA University,
– Steel Institute in Sundergarh
-ESIC Medical College in Rourkela
v An Engineering College by SAIL in Sundergarh
Kalahandi-Nuapada:
– A National/Central University in Kalahandi
-Up-gradation of Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna to Unitray University
-Up-gradation of Agriculture College at Bhawanipatna to a University of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
-Government Medical College in Kalahandi
– Nursing College, Nuapda
Thanking you
Best regards
Members of Koshal Discussion and Development Forum (KDDF) & well wishers
[Note: KDDF is forum of global people interested in development of Koshal region of Odisha in other words Western Odisha. KDDF is a non-political and non-separatist organization interested in bringing development to Western Odisha and simultaneously popularize significance of Koshal among general mass in similar spirit like for Utkala or Kalinga is done and it does not associate with separate state movement rather encourage people to be proud for their Koshal historical route.]
· Panchayat College Bargarh should be expanded to a full-fledged educational institute byopening PG courses including Computer sciences, Management, Biotechnology and Nursing.
· As the Bargarh-Sambalpur area is considered as “rice bowl” of Orissa, a branch of central rice research Institute, (http://crri.nic.in/) should be opened at Bargarh area to promote agriculture, in particular rice cultivation.
· Establish a unit of National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) (http://www.ncbindia.com/) along with private partners in Bargarh as this institute can have multiple units. Apart from the main center in Delhi; it has its units in Ahmadabad and Hyderabad (http://www.ncbindia.com/units.htm). Bargarh has many cement factories it will promote a lot in expanding expertise in areas like cement manufacturing and building materials.
Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda:
· Indian Institute of Management should be established in Bargarh-Sambalpur-Burla-Jharsuguda
· GM College needs to be upgraded to a unitary university.
· The Jharsuguda area has lot of Industries and going to have many more in future. A Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) lab like National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (http://www.neeri.res.in/index.php) should be established in this area. This institute aims to strives to provide scientific, industrial research and development that maximizes the economic & environmental and social benefit for the people.
Boudh-Athamallik:
· Odisha Institute of Management, Boudh
· Institute of Pharmacy and Nursing, Boudh
Deogarh:
· A branch of Institute of Forest research should be established in Deogarh (see http://www.envfor.nic.in/icfre/icfre.html). Deogarh will be a suitable place for this location; it has dense forest with natural environment. It will be a suitable location for branch of forest research Institute. Ushakothi (Badrama) Sanctuary is also close to Deogarh.
Sudergarh:
· Up-gradation of BPUT along the line of ANNA University,
· Steel institute,
· ESIC medical college
· An engg college by SAIL
Kalahandi-Nuapada:
· Govt. Medical College Kalahandi
· A National/Central University in Kalahandi
· Up-gradation of Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna to Unitray University
· Up-gradation of Agriculture College to a University of Agriculture
Kosal Discussion and Development Forum 