Varsity status for Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna during its Golden Jubilee

To

The Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha

CC
Honorable Members of Parliament from Odisha
Secretary, Higher Education Department, Odisha Government
Secretary, Finance Department, Odisha Government
Media & Intelectuals



Dear Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,

In the coming month Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna is celebrating its Golden Jubilee by catering the flame of learning since last 50 years needed in a backward place in higher education. It has produced many brilliant students in many walks of life. Many of them are today in many high positions.

Despite being located in a backward and underdeveloped region, Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna has established itself for maintaining high quality in education in this part of the state. Students of this College have been securing top ranks at the University level as well as state level in various fields of education.

It is also among the first 47 colleges in the nation and only 3 colleges in the state to get the “College with Potential for Excellence” (CPE) status by UGC since 2004. In KBK-Kandhaamal- Boudh region it is the only college to get this honor so far.

KBK region is known to be backward in higher education and research facilities. Lack of sufficient teachers/lecturers in major Government Colleges in the region has been a serious concern. Unitary University would facilitate highly skilled professionals in the various fields to join as permanent faculties, such as, as lecturer, Assistant, Associate and full Professors, in such institutions and will fulfill deficiencies in shortage of lecturers in Autonomous College in Kalahandi, KBKK region in genereal.

Being an autonomous college, this college has limited flexibility to introduce new courses on nursing, pharmacy, optometrist, agriculture, horticulture, banking and services, metal processing, information processing, computer science, medicine etc in the diploma, bachelor as well as postgraduate level course and carry out research work seriously to fulfill local demand.

A Unitary University, however, will give this institution independency to introduce new courses not only in the discipline mentioned above but also in the field of medicine, agriculture, technology etc based on local requirements. It will also improve the current deficiency in regular teaching positions and make the professor’s position non-transferable basis by directly encouraging research activities

Kalahandi is the central district in KBK region. Even including other backward districts of Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajpati and Padampur sub-division, Bhawanipatna is centrally located in this region. All major towns/districts of KBK as well as Boudh, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Padampur (Bargarh Dist) could be easily reached within 200 km by state/national highways from this place. The college has available free land.

Based on location, available infrastructure, local & regional requirements, quality, and importantly merit Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna deserves to be a Unitary University in the state.

Regionally Odisha Government has always given preference for Northern, Southern or Western Odisha in development. However, in most of the cases Berhampur and Sambalpur/Rourkela regions are given priorities in the name of Southern and Western region respectively keeping large part of South-Western Odisha in dark and backward.

Odisha state Government has already given many Unitary University statuses to many institutions in the other parts of the state recently. However, nothing has been done in South-Western Odisha which is well known for backwardness in education, poverty and tribal population.

Frustrating over state Government's aparthy towards this region in education, infrastructure and health, people here are also increasingly thinking of a separate state. Merging with Odisha state in 1947 has not benefited this region rather it has always put in the back seat in development, education and health compared to other regions in the state.

There is a continuous demand among studetns, teachers, alumni, intellectuals, well wishers and general mass of this region since past decade to give Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna University status. A petition has also been sent to Higher Education Task Force of Odisha Government on this issue by the college and its alumni. Honorable member of parliment from Kalahandi has also written letter personally to you on this matter.

Today this College is celebrating its Golden Jubilee providing high quality education in the region, on this ocassion we request University status should be adhered to this college by Odisha state Government.

Thank you and best regards