Intellectuals demand National University in Bhawanipatna

The Pioneer, Oct 5, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar

Noted Oriya NRI and professor in American University of Beirut, Digambara Patra has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a letter to kindly consider Bhawanipatna as one of the locations for the proposed National University to be established across India.

He has also sent a copy of the letter to President Pratibha Patil, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Opposition leader LK Advani, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik and all MPs from Orissa.

It may be noted that recently the Central Government has proposed quality standard higher educational institutions like IIT, IIM and very newly National University, also known as world class central university, across India. All of them are being proposed to be established in metropolitan or Tier II cities across India.

While establishing quality higher educational institution in India, there should be equal distribution not only based on geography or State but also based on rural and urban areas, he pointed out. IIT Kharagpur was the first IIT in India and was established in semi-urban rural area. This institution has the best rating compared to other IITs based in metro cities. IIT Roorkee and BITS Pilani have also proved the same. Thus, it is evident that quality can still be maintained while establishing such institution in semi-urban areas. Unfortunately, while establishing new IITs not a single semi-urban rural location was chosen, he lamented.

Similarly, the same trend is being repeated while establishing 14 National Universities across India, he rued. Does not rural India need quality education and investment? Among 14 National Universities proposed across India why four to seven of them cannot be built in smaller towns in rural India, he asked. Anil Agrawal Foundation is establishing a world class university with Rs 15,000 crore investment in Puri which is located within 70 km from Orissa’s State capital. Is there any point we build many world class institutions in one region and keep the other dark and backward, he further asked.

Bhubaneswar is already having or is proposed to have NISER, IIT, AIIMS etc which are of the same stature of national university, apart from railway medical college and many national level research institutions. Among the 14 States selected for National University, Bhubaneswar is the only location where IIT, NISER and National University are coming in one place. So keeping in view of development of other corner of Orissa and rural India in mind, why such National University proposed in Orissa is not being built in a semi-urban rural cluster such as in Bhawanipatna, which has similar infrastructure like Kharagpur, he urged.

Locals, students, youths, intellectuals and social organisations in Kalahandi have been demanding a Central /National University in Kalahandi since 1988 but the Orissa CM frustrated all such efforts by not keeping his promise to establish the same, he alleged.