Shortage of staff plagues govt college

The Statesman, Dec 3, 2008

Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, Dec 2: The development council of the Bhawanipatna Government College recently expressed deep concern over the acute shortage of staff in the college, its weak infrastructure and large scale encroachment of the college premises by outsiders.
The college, which was granted autonomous status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2002, and is also dubbed as having "potential for excellence", functions with only 32 teaching staff for the degree classes as against the sanctioned strength of 59. Similarly in the junior college section out of the sanctioned 26 posts, only 21 have been filled up. Besides, out of 78 non-teaching staff posts, 28 are lying vacant. Out of the sanctioned 11 lab assistants' posts, eight are vacant. No store-keepers have been appointed as yet. The college has been functioning without a physical training instructor for the last 20 years.
The staff crunch is affecting the day-to-day functioning of the college particularly the science laboratories where many classes are reportedly kept suspended due to the staff shortage, it was decided at the special meeting to generate funds to bring in guest teachers to fill up the posts. But the fund constraints are turning out to be hurdles in bringing adequate number of guest teachers causing the teaching faculty here to be overburdened. Hence the development council has urged the government to appoint teaching staff as per the requirement of the college.
During the meeting discussions were held about the rampant encroachment of the college campus. Out of the 54 acres of land belonging to the college, more than three acres have reportedly been encroached by more than 120 families who have constructed dwelling houses on the college premises. This apart the sale and purchase of college land is reportedly continuing unabashed. Although the district administration attempted to evict the encroachers last year, the families have returned and occupied the land again. Incidentally, according to local residents the encroachers include 10 college employees.
Chairman of the council Prof. Gopabandhu Behera, principal of the college Dr GRG Rao, collector Kalahandi Mr R Santha Gopalan and Lok Sabha member Mr Bikram Keshari Deo attended the council meeting.