NROs demand National University in undivided Sambalpur district
Clarification: Reading memorandum by KDDF and news reported in SAMAJA (Sept 26, 2009, Sambalpur edition), we received many mails from Bhawanipatna and in Kalahandi region including our well wishers in last two days, saying “they are already continuing to demand a National / international University in Kalahandi since past year and have already met leader of opposition who has raised this issue with central and state Government and pursuing the same with local leaders to convince central Government for a national or international University in Kalahandi after losing the central University. Now suggesting BSJ region for National University is confusing."
We contiune to support their demand for a national / central/ international University in Kalahandi, however, this time we had asked for National University of Orissa in BSJ instead of Bhubaneswar (original memoradum is given below). Our concern was if airport is a major criteria for the National University to be established in Bhubaneswar then BSJ region can also fulfill the same criteria. Politically similar criteria is always used by state Government against Western Orissa region like the case it happened for IIT in Burla, Central University in Kalahandi and very recently ESIC medical college in Balangir despite the fact that the site location and land indentification are largely with the state Government and not with the central Government.
We think Bhubaneswar is already having NISER, IIT, AIIMS etc which seems to be like national university, apart from railway medical college and many national level research institutions. Among 14 states selected for National University, Bhubaneswar is the only location in India where IIT, NISER (similar to IISER/IISc) and National University are coming in one place. So like it is happening in other states such as in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, Rajasthan, UP etc National University proposed in Orissa by MHRD should also go to a city other than state capital. In fact as per Yashpal committee, all the proposed IIT could be like National University in coming future, so there is no point keeping two national Universities in one location, rather encouraging in other part of the state such as in Kalahandi or Sambalpur region. If central Government insist requirement of Airport for the proposed 14 national universities across India then the proposed National University at Bhubaneswar should be established in Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda (BSJ) region as there is second airport of the state coming in this region and it is well connected by railways to all the major locations in the nation.
In this case equal importance should also be given to establish a new national / central/ international University in Kalahandi as it lost the opportunity to get a central University earlier. Local people and KSVP have been demanding a central University in Kalahandi since 1988 and Orissa Chief Minister did not keep his promise to establish a similar one last time, people are more frustrated over this development and it should be corrected by the Government. After losing the central University recently they have asked for a National or International University in Kalahandi, which we do support them.
Memorandum by Koshal Disucssion and Development Forum:
To
Dr. Manmohan Singh, honourable Prime Minister of India
cc
Smt. Partibha Patil, honourable President of India
Smt. Sonia Gandhi, honourable UPA chairperson
Mr. L. K. Advani, honourable leader of opposition
Mr. Kapil Sibal, honourable union minister of Human Resource Development
Mr. Naveen Patnaik, honourable Chief Minister of Orissa
Members of Parliament from Orissa
Dear honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Singh,
In the past few years MHRD and other central Govt. ministries have established many centrally funded institutions in Orissa keeping backwardness in mind. We appreciate the efforts of your govt. towards the developments of higher education in Orissa.
Among all the centrally funded institution National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), railway medical college and the proposed national University (World Class Central University) are located in Bhubaneswar. The state govt has chosen two such centrally funded institutes out side Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri region viz. Central University Koraput (South Orissa) and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) (proposed) in Berhampur (South Orissa). Please have a look on the links for the distribution of educational institutions in Orissa (Appendix 1).
Sir,
Ten districts of Koshal region viz. Sambalpur, Balangir, Bargarh, Boudh, Subarnapur, Deogarh, Kalahandi, Sudergarh, Jharsuguda, and Nuapada have been demanding the establishment of centrally funded institutes in Koshal region. Orissa state Govt. has earlier betrayed demand of IIT in Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region and Central University in Kalahandi.
The current Orissa govt. is continuing to be Bhubaneswar-centric by proposing new central governments institutes in Bhubaneswar. Recently the CM has announced that National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will be established in Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar is already having NISER, IIT, AIIMS etc which are like national university apart from railway medical college and many national level research institutions. So like it is happening in other states such as in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, etc National University in Orissa should also go to a city other than the state capital.
We urge you to oppose this capital-centric approach of the state govt and please allow the proposed National University (World Class Central University) to be established in Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area. We are not against development of Bhubaneswar region but it should not be the case that Koshal region would be always at the receiving end like it happened for the demand of IIT in Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region and Central University in Kalahandi.
Further, National University (World Class Central University) in Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region would serve the broader interest of the state. Beside that Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area has the following advantages for a National University:
1. 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 the region such as Sambalpur – Angul – Cuttack – Bhubaneswar belt, Sambalpur-Jharsuguda-Rourkela belt, Jharsuguda – Sambalpur – Lanjigarh – Rayagada – Koraput belt, and Sambalpur - Jharsuguda – Korba – Bilaspur-Raipur belt.
2. Sambalpur and its neighbouring city Rourkela area are two major metropolitan areas of the state. Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda is more acessible for students from all the districts of Koshal region.
3. Recently, the AAI is taking initiatives to establish an airport in Jharsuguda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jharsuguda_Airport). This area is well connected to Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Vishakhapatnam, Raipur, Nagpur, Ranchi, and Mumbai by rail.
4. The Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area has all the necessary amenities like road connectivity, hotels, malls, restaurants, bookshops and parks. So, there will be no problem for attracting faculties for this University.
5. Currently this area has two universities (viz. Sambalpur University and VSS University of Technology), a government medical college, and few private engineering colleges. Rourkela city which is close to Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda area has a National Institute of Technology. Once it will have a National University it can be an important knowledge centre of the country.
6. Even though the Koshal region is one of the least developed regions in Orissa, all the centrally funded educational institutes are located in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri region (please follow the earlier links). There should be equitable distribution of resources in order to guarantee educational and economical development of the poor and empowerment of the women.
7. The health facility in Koshal region is one of the worst in the nation. Not only there is a serious shortage of health professionals but also the infrastructures in the hospitals of this region are insufficient and under equipped. This year when 100 people died from Swine Flue it caused panic in the nation but hundreds of lives are lost every year in Koshal region from common disease, for which the nation rarely thinks. A good example was when 40 lives were lost due to common disease like diarrhoea in Koshal region in last one month but nobody in the nation cared about the sensitivity of this issue.
Therefore, we request you to kindly establish the proposed National University in Orissa in Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region instead of Bhubaneswar.
Thank you and best regards,
Members of Koshal Discussion and Development Forum (KDDF) & well wishers
Appendix 1:
http://www.kosal.org/wp-content/uploads/Central-funded-Institutions-for-higher-studies-and-research1.pdf
http://www.kosal.org/wp-content/uploads/State-funded-Institutions-for-higher-learning1.pdf
http://www.kosal.org/wp-content/uploads/Private-Universities-Institutions1.pdf
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