Kalahandi varsity demand louder

Tathya.in, Feb 1, 2011
Bhubaneswar:1/February/2011


The demand is getting louder for a University in Kalahandi.

Intellectuals, educationists and students feel that the Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) should take the lead in setting up the University, which is the dire need of the hour.

In a recently held daylong conference on “Emergence of Science Education” was organized by the VAL at Lanjigarh, they felt strongly for the varisty, which is the need of the people of this tribal zone.

This conference was attended by many intellectuals of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts including the students and faculties of the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna and the Government Autonomous College, Rayagada.

The VAL authority needs to understand the requirement of higher educational aspirations of Kalahandi, says a faculty participant.

He pointed out that half a century back the people of Kalahandi had set up Science College at Bhawanipatna for the development of basic science education in undivided Kalahandi.

The College has achieved CPE rank and Autonomous status and is known now as Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna.

The Institution has already produced many luminaries on basic science.

For quality science education at Degree level, this is one of the best institutions in Odisha.

Even the students belonging to the interior zones such as Lanjigarh, Narla, Risida, Karlapada, Dharamgarh, Khariar, Gunupur, and Titilagarh etc, having their degree course in Science in this college, are now posted as scientists/ faculties in various European and Asiatic Science Research Institutes and Universities.

Dr. A.K Nanda thus exhorted a Vedanta University at Kalahandi for quality science education and research or an IISER (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research) or NISER of Bhubaneswar in needs to be promoted in PPP mode in Kalahandi.

While Prof. G.B Behera strongly supporting the contention of Dr.Nanda, exhorted that when Ani Agrawal Foundation is bent upon in setting up a World Class University at Puri at the cost of Rs.1600 crore, University at Kalahandi at the cost of Rs.1000 crore needs to be set up.

The faculties and student participants supported the argument and proposal of Dr.Nanda and Prof. Behera.

Prof, A. K Pujari, Vice – Chancellor of Sambalpur University who was the Chief Guest of the occasion too stressed on the need of a University at Kalahandi.

Now it is the demand of the day that University of Kalahandi needed to be set up and VAL has to make up the mind and take the lead, said Dr. Digambara Patra, Professor of the American University of Beirut.