Letter to CM: Tribal Univ in Kandhamal and IGNTU off campus in Kalahandi

Sept 25, 2009

Dear honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,
I appreciate and welcome your demand for a Tribal University for Kandhamal to the ministry of Union Minister for Tribal Affairs (The Pioneer, Sept 25, 2009).

http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/09/naveen-demands-tribal-university-for.html

Kandhamal is like other KBK districts which need equal attention like KBK region in infrastructure, railways and higher education, especially Lanjigarh road – Phulbani – Angul railway connection is more important towards local development of the region. Similarly, a direct state highway connecting Lanjigarh road – Simanbadi - Bhanjanagar would be beneficial.

On the other hand as reported by the media (Central Chronicle, Sept 14, 2009),
http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/09/looks-like-central-government-had.html

there would be 7 campuses of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Amarkantak across India. Out of them two, one at Amarkantak and other one in Manipur, have started functioning recently. Orissa should not lag behind in this regard.

We have received a letter from Mr. R D Sahay, Director of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) that “ it had already been decided by this Ministry that the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University could consider establishment of one of its off-campuses in Kalahandi district during the 11th Plan Period, subject to availability of resources”

Earlier Orissa state Government had proposed a similar branch in Phulbani after the unfortunate Kandhamal riots. But from the letter it is clear that MHRD had decided for an off campus of IGNTU branch in Kalahandi much before Orissa state Government had proposed for a similar branch in Phulbani. The time line is given in the following link.

http://kalahandia.blogspot.com/2009/07/time-line-on-development-of-igntu.html

Therefore, unlike the case of recent controversy on proposed ESI medical college in Orissa, state Government sould not encourage politics to play in the development of backward regions, Kalahandi and Kandhamal, as both of them need more concentration in development.

There is no reason wahy Orissa state Government should discourage IGNTU off campus in Kalahandi only due to the decision taken by central Government because always state Government has a greater role to play to select location and alloting land for such establishment.

Rather I urge you take the personal initiaitive to speed up the process for establishing IGNTU branch in Kalahandi with the MHRD, Govt. of India and seriously pursue for a completely new tribal University in Kandhamal under ministry of tribal affairs, Govt. of India by making each and every Orissa people proud of you without geographical boundary.

Earlier, state – centre politics had put Orissa much backward in higher education, being a highly qualified and knowledgeable Chief Minister, I wish you will make sure politics would have less space over development of both Kalahandi and Kandhamal in higher education.

I anticipate state Government will immediately pursue for IGNTU off campus in Kalahandi under MHRD to start in the coming year and for a tribal University in Kandhamal under ministry of tribal affairs.

Thank you and best regards

Digambara Patra