A Letter from Shri Bhakta Das to Minister of Human Resource Development for a National University in Kalahandi

Dated Ist Nove, 2009

BHAKTA CHARAN DAS, M.P, [Loksabha] KALAHANDI
BHAWANIPATNA
DIST – KALAHANDI, ORISSA

TO
SRI KAPIL SIBAL
Hon,ble Minister of Human Resource development
Govt. of India, New Delhi

Sub – Appeal for a National University at Kalahandi, Orissa

Esteemed Sibaljee,
Today is 1st November 2009, the foundation day of my constituency Kalahandi. It formed a separate district in Orissa Province on 1st November 1949 after the landmass joined with the Indian Dominion on Ist January 1948 with its merger with Orissa. In last two decades, Kalahandi became well known in India for its backwardness, poverty, and illiteracy. Higher Education entered into this landmass only in 1960 with the establishment of the present Govt. Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna.

Since 1990 people of Kalahandi have been struggling to get a University. During 1998-99, the people voiced for a Central University at Kalahandi and several appeals to the centre and the state and number of peaceful demonstrations took place for the cause of a Central University in Kalahandi. Their dream, however, dashed on the ground, when the Govt. of Orissa allotted land for the said University at Koraput in 2008, which you inaugurated recently. This action of Orissa Government has considerably injured the emotion of my people. Their request to H.R.D ministry during 2008 and in early part of 2009 for reconsideration of Kalahandi site - Karlapada [Eight hundred acers of Govt. land near Utkela air trip, Kesinga Rail station and NH, No- 201] for the said Central University was ignored.

With this backdrop, I appealed to your august office to Allot a National University for Kalahandi as a special package just like the K.B.K Yojana launched by our former Prime Minister, P.V Narasingha Rao in 1996 to alleviate the poverty of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput districts of Orissa. The said Yojana has ameliorated the economic lot of the people and your special package – National University will definitely sharpen the consciousness of the people in general and would give a boost to the talent of next generation. Two Universities [ Central University at Koraput and National University at Kalahandi in K.B.K zone will certainly bring rich dividends for the people and the backward K.B.K would march forward towards India 2020.

With regards

Yours Faithfully

Bhakta Charan Das