New central varsity

The Telegraph, Aug 30, 2009
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 29: Orissa’s maiden central university was launched today in one of the most backward regions of the country to bring education to the doorsteps of tribals and underprivileged youths.

Inaugurating it at Nishani Mundali in Koraput, Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal said the university’s location was the reflection of pro-tribal policy of the Congress-led UPA government.

“This university will definitely help in development of backward Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) region and western Orissa,” said Sibal.

Stating that the Centre was keen to set up international standard educational institutions across the country through public-private partnership, Sibal said companies should come forward to set up such institutes to help students to pursue higher studies in India instead of going abroad.

The Centre has decided to set up 3,500 model schools mostly in backward areas across the country, he said. Besides, the Union government is planning to set up 200 more kendriya vidyalayas within next two years, Sibal added.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik promised that the state government would provide land free of cost to the university and ensured all facilities, including water and electricity. He also urged Sibal to set up a medical college in the KBK region and allot more model schools to the state.

Central University inaugurated at Koraput
Pioneer News Service | Koraput
The Pioneer, Aug 30, 2009

Giving a boost to development of the KBK region, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal inaugurated the Central University of Orissa at Koraput on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, Sibal said education should be free from politics. He hoped that this university would help development of KBK and western Orissa, giving the students an opportunity of higher education.

He further said that the development of education of this backward area would help in development of the country as a whole. He said 3,500 nodal schools would be established by the Central Government throughout the country and among this 200 schools would be set up with the help of private entrepreneurs. The proposed model schools will be set up in the backward areas with an aim to provide primary education to all as “higher education has no meaning unless primary education was strengthened,” Sibal said. “The schools would be set up in PPP as part of our efforts to strengthen the human resource base,” Sibal said at the function held amidst tight security.

Corporate houses should come forward to invest in the education sector as developing human resources is the key to the success of any nation, he said. “About 1.5 lakh Indian students are going abroad for education. We will like to provide all facilities in the country so that students need not go to foreign countries,” Sibal said.

Only 12 out of 100 students reach the graduation level in India, while the figure was 85 in the US, he said, adding central universities in backward places like Koraput could help students get into higher learning Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, addressing on the occasion, said his Government would provide water and electricity to the university. “This university will play a vital role as a Gyan Mandir, and the youth of the area will get opportunity for their higher education,” he said, adding that development in education was the root path of progress. The students of my KBK region will take the opportunity of the University and will be helpful for development of higher education in the State, he said.

“Providing quality education, disseminate inclusive education to reach the unreached is the mission of this University”, said Vice-Chancellor of the Central University Prof (Dr) Surabhi Banerjee.

Among others, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh, Higher Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Minsiter of State for Science and Technology Ramesh Chandra Majhi, member of Rajya Sabha Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Koraput member of Lokh Sabha Jairam Pangi, and MLA Raghuram Padal also spoke.