Without political willingness for backward KBKK higher education task force is meaningless

Dear Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,


Formation of Higher Education Task Force is a welcoming step, however, without political willingness for backward region like KBKK (Kalahandi Balangir Koraput Kandhamal undivided districts) such task force might get meaningless. Continuous neglect by state Government since past 50 years in higher education has made this region practically untouchable. Movement of people to this region from rest of the state is rare as there was no major industrial development or government establishment in this region until very recently. Decades of serious neglect cannot be over come just by establishment one/two institutions where some other parts of the state already have 5-6 well established similar institutions and Universities. KBK consists 30% of state geography and 20% of population. But it does not have 30% highways and railways or 20% of Universities and Government medical colleges. More number of new higher educational establishments is required especially in the region to increase the gross enrolment ratio. Many of these regions do have potential for growth.

Taking the example of Government College Bhawanipatna; despite being located in a remote place it has proven in the state as well as national levels, among the first three colleges to be granted as potential centre of excellence in the state by UGC. However, instead of encouraging such an OASIS in higher education in the backward pocket, the Odisha state Government has discouraged this institution in funding, number of regular teachers and professor post. The number of regular teachers in this college has dramatically decreased now in comparison to a decade ago. There is no professor post associated with this college. There are 38 vacant regular posts at this moment unlike a decade ago in this college. There were eight regular faculties serving in Chemistry department two decades ago and now only two of them are serving for the whole college. If the state Government is unable to address such important issues currently, how the higher education vision could be realized in long run? I am afraid that the efforts put by many well known educationalists for preparing the vision in higher education would not be limited to pen, paper and political euphoria.

On the other side, political negligence is one of the very serious causes effecting higher education enrolment in KBKK and Western Odisha region. Most of the new central government institutions are coming either in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar or South Orissa region and not a single one is being established in Western Orissa which lacks sufficient number of higher educational and research institutions despite consisting a vast area and population.

The state government has at the last moment undermined a Central University in Kalahandi despite the region (1) lacks any such University, (2) has been continuously making effort to pursue it since two decades and (3) importantly has proven that it can handle higher educational institution better, through the performance of Government College Bhawanipatna in difficult situations at the national and state level.

What more one can expect to aspire for higher education from a backward place where the literacy rate is not yet touched 50%? The region is continuing its effort to aspire for a National University without getting any support from the Government. Instead of rewarding such places, unfortunately Odisha state Government is giving consolation. This should be addressed.

Some people blindly argues necessity of primary education without even deeply thinking that it’s the higher education and its job potential which finally encourages people to be educated in poor and tribal families. Both are inter-related and should be dealt individually and seriously in place like Kalahandi.

Unless these regions are seriously taken care and the situation in the state continues in the similar line, higher education and its gross enrolment will never improve for the whole state except for few selected regions. The gap between western bordering regions, Sundergarh to Malkangiri and costal bordering region, Balasore to Ganjam, would continue to increase in higher education and in its enrolment.

I hope this problem is addressed before taking other things into consideration.

Thanking you

With best regards