Cry for KBKK getting louder

Tathya, 6th June, 2008
Bhubaneswar:6/June/2008

Dr.Digambara Patra is very upset over the partiality of the Naveen Patnaik government.
The leading Non Resident Odia (NRO), who teaches at the American University of Beirut is known for his love for KBKK (Koraput, Balangir, Kalahandi and Kandhamal) most backward Zone of Orissa.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, he has narrated the story of "lollypop" for a crying child, while pointing out the discrimination meted out to the KBKK region on the issue of setting up the institutions of higher learning.
Dr.Patra's contention is that people of KBKK needs engineering college more than the people of Ganjam.The central Government announced an IIT for Orissa and people around Berhampur wanted to establish it in their region.Nonetheless, consistent persuasion of central Government and policy makers to have an airport in the vicinity of IIT, the dream of Berhampur region started getting marginalized.Taking into notice the frustration of Chief Minister's home district, the state Government immediately announced an engineering college in Berhampur.
This has opened the Pandora box.
If the state Government wanted to establish a new engineering college, it's a very welcome decision.However, it should reflect the practical and social requirements for the whole state.
Except undivided Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput and Kandhamal (KBKK) districts in Orissa, rest of the undivided districts have at least one government institutions.Those are solely funded by state Government like a state university, engineering college, medical college or agriculture college.For many of them second institution through PPP or state Government funded are under consideration.And few of them are lucky to have 3 government institutions funded completely by the state government.Then why the apathetic approach for the KBKK zone, asked Dr.Patra.
Secondly, state Government is not getting enough funds to establish a new government institution in other parts of Orissa.Therefore, it is encouraging private parties to participate through PPP to build higher educational institutes importantly in KBK districts.
And none of them have succeeded so far.Then suddenly the announcement for a new Government Engineering College in Berhampur ignoring KBKK districts, sound funny.
If the state Government needed to establish an Engineering institute in South Orissa, Koraput was the most suitable place.
Engineering colleges in smaller towns such as Gunpur (private), Parlakhemundi (private), Sarang (state Govt.) etc are being very much successfully run in the state.Amazingly, why can't Koraput/Jeypore, Bhawanipatna, Balangir, or Phulbani, those are considered as major towns in Orissa representing major chunks of regions, make for an engineering institute?
Is it the reason our CM wanted to establish a new engineering college in his home district like our HRD minister and Prime minister tried and exposed them-selves to the whole nation?
Berhampur already has a state university, medical college and a diploma engineering college solely funded by the state Government and there are also few good private engineering institutes in its vicinity.
Before taking the decision hurriedly, it should have been practical to bring regional balance to all regions regarding solely state funded Governmental institutes to every region in Orissa, suggested Dr.Patra.