UCE acquires unitary university status

The Statesman, Feb 16, 2009
Statesman News Service

SAMBALPUR, Feb. 15: It was a Red-letter day for the University College of Engineering (UCE) at Burla. The 50 year-old elite technical institute of the state was named Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) on the eve of the golden jubilee valedictory celebrations today.
It may be mentioned here that the change was effected through a gazette notification on 12 February.
Students, staff and general mass at large have been demanding unitary university status to this oldest technical institution of the state and that got materialised today in the presence of the chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik, Sambalpur MP Mr Prasanna Acharya, state industries minister Mr BB Harichandan, commerce and transport minister Mr Jayanarayan Mishra, secretary of the Alumni Association Mr Ashes Padhy, convener Prof. SK Sar and principal, Prof CR Tripathy.
Needless to say the presence of the alumni of the institute who have made their presence felt in prestigious organisations like ISRO, NASA, DRDO and many more public and private sectors of the country and abroad.
Dedicating VSSUT to the nation and unveiling the logo, the chief minister Mr Patnaik lauded in high words the commendable work of VSSUT, in spreading quality technical education in the country and producing technocrats of name and fame.
“The state is to witness a perceptible change soon due to investment of Rs 6 lakh crore in steel, aluminium, power and IT sectors. Globalisation and liberalisation has generated unprecedented demand for high quality technical people all over the world. VSSUT will take this challenge in catering the present demand,” Mr Patnaik said and appealed students and staff to be at par with international standards.
The CM also assured to fulfil all the demands of the students including allotment of 400 acres of land adjacent to it. “Young engineers will transform Orissa as the richest state of the country. At the same time, I hope, students here will uphold the great tradition and image of this institute,” Mr Patnaik said.
"There would be two more government engineering colleges at Bhawanipatna and Berhampur soon," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Prasanna Acharya reiterated the commitment of the state government for equilibrium between industry and agriculture.
On this occasion, chief minister Mr Patnaik inaugurated a mammoth memorial gate erected by old students of VSSUT and at present working at Nalco in Angul. He also inaugurated a ladies hostel meant for the SC students of the university. The chief minister Mr Patnaik later addressed a meeting organised by Orissa Construction Mazdoor Union (OCMU) affiliated to Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha (BMS). Thousands of women working in the unorganised sector attended the meeting.
“Your contributions from food production to construction of a road or in preparing the very infrastructure for the country are no doubt praise worthy. Development can’t be thought of sparing you all,” the chief minister said.
“My government is very much aware of the problems of the labourers, particularly women and is determined to safeguard their interest. At the same time, we have recently raised wage of the Kendu leaf puckers to give more money in the hands of the poor people mainly ladies who are engaged in good numbers in this particular seasonal job,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajya Sabha member Mr Baijayant Panda said that it was Biju Patnaik who first reserved seats for the women in the three tier panchayat elections in the nineties and gave them a chance to take part in the administration and make their status equal with the male dominated society.
He also spoke on Mission Shakti and its popularity among the women groups. “Women need to know the various welfare schemes and take its advantage for their socio-economic development,” he appealed.
The President of OCMU Ms. Pankajini Nayak and working president Mr Prasanta Padhi highlighted the problems the women in unorganised sector face. They also put fourth various demands and appealed chief minister to fulfill them for the greater interest of the poor and illiterate worker women.