Letter to CM: Thank you for Vedanta group financed Govt. medical college in Kalahandi

Dear Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,

I thank you very much and appreciate your initiative to establish a Govt. medical college and hospital in Kalahandi with the finnacial help from Vedanta group. I have been writing to you as well as Vedanta group since 2009 to establish a medical college and hospital with the help of Vedanta group in Kalahandi. I am personally happy that even though in late, the state Govt. has responded positively in this regard. 

If you recall my letter dated on Aug 1, 2011, I had emphasized that "people of Kalahandi were hopeless for the proposed WODC initiated medical college. I also learned that Vedanta's initiative to take WODC initiated medical college in Kalahandi could not be materialised due to other involved private parties. In this circumstance why the state Government is not pursuing to Vedanta to build a fresh medical college and hospital in Kalahandi, one of the demand critic of Vedanta's is also advocating?"

Indeed all the local concerns regarding Sardar Raja Medical college came out to be true and the Sardar Raja medical college did not succeed as expected. I am glad that state Govt. has taken a course correction over this years and reacted positively by bringing Vedanta group to establish a Govt. medical college. This will help in subsidizing local anger against failure of Sardar Raja medical college and fulfill the demand of local people of Kalahandi.

I have also been advocating to engage Vedanta group to establish Vedanta Kalahandi University in the region (a proposal earlier sent to both state Govt. and VAL in 2010) to bring higher education development in the region. Such an University will help in generating quality human resources in the local level and inspire local population towards higher education. Since higher education is directly related to improving living standard and quality of life of people, it will bring greater benefits in KBK region. In addition,  a national standard University by Vedanta group in Kalahandi might give a positive flux to silent critics and help in establishing world class Vedanta University at Puri. 

Establishing educational institutions will have a win-win impact for both Vedanta group, state Govt. and local population in the region.  

Once again my sincere thanks to you on behalf of people of Kalahandi and KBK region.  I hope state Govt. will facilitate more such proposal to bring positive change in the KBK region in quality education and health care facilities. 

With best regards

RAW DEAL TO KBK IN NEW ODISHA EDU POLICY

The Pioneer, May 3, 2016

The ‘New Education Policy-2016’ proposed by the Higher Education Department of Odisha has not done correct assessment while selecting/proposing new affiliated universities across State. To be particular, it has neglected the KBK region.

The draft proposal should have considered quality of the colleges during selection procedure. Colleges having dubious record in the past for malpractice are given priority than college like Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna (GACB), which has always kept high standard of education practice.

This is well reflected from the fact that GACB was among the first 52 colleges in India to receive Potential Center of Excellence (PCE) by University Grant Commission (UGC), the first three colleges in Odisha to get PCE status by UGC and the first college in KBK region to get PCE recognition.

Among the first three PCE colleges of Odisha, other two colleges (GM College and Khallikote College) have already been made Unitary/Cluster Universities by the State Government.

Because of GACB’s good standard, the same Higher Education Department of Odisha had recommended in 2014-15 for upgrading GACB to a university under RUSHA scheme of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. Unfortunately, the GACB could not fulfill RUSHA requirements due to lack of sufficient number of lecturers and other infrastructure facilities for which State Government is largely responsible. Thus, present suggestion for affiliated universities by ignoring GACB contradicts earlier recommendation.

In addition, the proposal also contradicts recommendation made by earlier Higher Education Task Force headed by Prof Pradhan, which had recommended to upgrade GACB to an affiliated university for Kalahandi and Nuapda region in the name of South Western Odisha University. Recommendation of GACB to a university was even prior to conversion of GM College and Khallikote College to universities by the same Task Force.

In 2008, the Sambalpur University had also proposed a branch campus in Bhawanipatna and a UGC team had inspected the proposal, the fate of which is hanging.

The current education policy suggests affiliating universities in Jeypore, Balangir, Rourkela, Angul and Puri. That means the concentration of new universities will continue to be again within 100 km radius of Bhubaneswar.

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Khordha region has already multiple number of national and State institutions including IIT, NISER, IIIT, AIIMS, five State Government universities, three private universities etc, whereas Brahmapur has multiple numbers of State Government institutions and two State Universities. NIT at Rourkela and IIM in Sambalpur boost a number of national institutions in Sambalpur-Rourkela region. This region has three State Government universities. North Odisha has also two State universities, one in Baleswar and another in Baripada.

In comparison, the KBK region comprising 30 per cent of Odisha’s geography and 20 per cent of its population has only one Central University of Orissa (CUO) at Koraput. There is no State Government university for the affiliated colleges in the region due to political bias.

This region needs special consideration to have more national institutions and State universities, especially to develop as a higher education corridor.

(Dr Patra, who hails from Kalahandi, is a faculty member in the Chemistry Department of the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon) 

New Education Policy 2016 contradicts all earlier recommendations by Higher Education Department

Dear sir,

The “New Education Policy-2016” proposed by Higher Education Department of Odisha has NOT done correct assessment while selecting/proposing new affiliated Universities across state because of the following reasons.

(1) The draft proposal should have considered quality of the colleges during selection procedure. Colleges having dubious record in the past for malpractice are given priority than college like Govt. Autonomous College Bhawanipatna (GACB), which has always kept high standard of education practice in this region. This is well reflected from the fact that GACB was among the: (i) first 52 colleges in India to receive Potential Center of Excellence (PCE) by University Grant Comission (UGC); (ii) first three colleges in Odisha to get PCE status by UGC; and (iii) the first college in KBK region to get PCE recognition by UGC

(2) Among the first three PCE colleges of Odisha, other two colleges (G M College and Khallikote college) in Odisha have already been made Unitary/Cluster Universities by state Govt.

(3) GACB is one of the most respected and prestigious colleges under Sambalpur University and in this region for quality education.

(4) Because of its good standard, the same higher education department of Odisha state Govt. had recommended in 2014-15 for upgrading GACB to a University under RUSHA scheme of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. Unfortunately, GACB could not fulfill RUSHA requirements due to lack of sufficient number of lecturers and other infrastructure facilities for which state Govt. is largely responsible, thus, present suggestion for affiliated universities  by ignoring GACB contradicts earlier recommendation of same higher education department of Odisha.

(5) In addition, this proposal also contradicts recommendation made by earlier Higher Education Task Force headed by Prof. Pradhan by your own Govt., which had recommended to upgrade GACB to an affiliated University for Kalahandi and Nuapda region in the name of South Western Odisha University. Recommendation of GACB to a University was even prior to conversion of G M College and Khallikote College to Universities by the same task force.

(6) In 2008 Sambalpur University had also proposed a branch campus in Bhawanipatna and a UGC team had inspected for this proposal, the fate of which is hanging.

(7) The current new education policy suggests affiliating Universities in Jeypore, Balangir, Rourkela, Angul and Puri. That means the concentration of new Universities will continue to be again within 100 km radius of Bhubaneswar, as one more affiliated Universities have been proposed in Puri (undivided Puri district will have two affiliated universities) and other one in nearby Angul. Rather the committee should have recommended Ravensha University to an affiliated University for undivided Cuttack district and kept Puri under Utkal University for undivided Puri dstrict only.

(8) Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Khordha region has already multiple number of national and state institutions including IIT, NISER, IIIT, AIIMS, five state Govt. universities, three private universities etc. whereas Berhampur has multiple numbers of state Govt. institutions and 2 state Govt. Universities along with newly established IISER.  NIT at Rourkela and IIM in Sambalpur boost number of national institutions in Sambalpur-Rourkela region. This region has 3 state Govt. Universities in Sambalpur and one state University in Rourkela. North Odisha has also two state Universities in Balasore and Baripada. In comparison, KBK region comprising 30 % of Odisha’s geography and 20 % of its population has only one Central University of Orissa (CUO) at Koraput. There is no state Govt. University for the affiliated colleges in the region due to political biases. It does not have 20 % or 30% of state Govt. universities as per the need of its population or geography. This region needs special consideration to have more national institutions and state Govt. universities, especially to develop as a higher education corridor. Otherwise all the arguments by higher education department using low GER and regional disparity is meaningless.

(9) Geographically, Bhawanipatna is centrally located in all KBK districts and unlike Balangir it is farthest place from Sambalpur University. In fact based on geographical and other considerations Sambalpur University had earlier proposed campuses in Bhawanipatna and Rourkela whereas Berhampur University has proposed a campus in Jeypore.

(10) If affiliated Universities can be made each for Puri-Nayagarh, Dhenkanal-Angul and Sundergarh-Deogarh, undivided Balasore district then why not for Kalahandi-Nuapada? Socially, politically, economically, regionally and infrastructure wise it will be good to make three affiliated Universities in KBK region one each at Jeypore, Bhawanipatna and Balangir, especially, when this region is well known for backwardness, low GER, poor regional distribution of higher educational institution and high concentration of tribal population.

All the above proves very well that Govt. Autonomous College Bhawaniptana is the most deserving college in KBK region under Sambalpur University based on its potential and quality education and all other past recommendations by various committees, Sambalpur University and UGC (University Grant Commission), therefore, it must be considered for a University in new education policy 2016.

Thank you and best regards

Kalahandi District Sans A University

Note: Thanks to initiative and support by Priya Abraham and support of Sandeep Sethi
The New Indian Express (Bhubaneswar), April 28, 2016

BHAWANIPATNA:  Kalahandi is yet to find a place in the higher education map of Odisha as it does not have a single university despite assurances of the State Government.

In the absence of adequate number of colleges and a university, the gross enrolment ratio of the district continues to be low at 8.7 per cent. According to a report on the level of education achieved by Indians as of 2011, released by the office of the Census Commissioner and Registrar-General of India last year, in Kalahandi, only 4,789 youths have completed their BA/BSc/BCom degrees while their population is around 1.2 lakh.

In the Education Policy-2016 which is being framed by the Higher Education Department, Kalahandi finds no mention. Instead, the department has proposed to upgrade five autonomous colleges in Jeypore, Balangir, Rourkela, Angul and Puri to universities.

Although the Task Force on Higher Education in 2009 had recommended for upgradation of Government Autonomous College of Bhawanipatna to an affiliated university for Kalahandi and Nuapada region, it has been ignored by the department.

On the other hand, the State Government had last year recommended for upgrading the college into a university under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD). “Unfortunately, due to lack of adequate number of lecturers and infrastructure facilities, the proposal was turned down by the MHRD. The State Government is largely responsible for this as no attention has been paid towards faculty recruitment in the college,” said Akshay Kumar Nanda, a retired principal of the college.

Apparently, the Government Autonomous College of Bhawanipatna is the first college in KBK region to get ‘Potential for Centre of Excellence’ recognition by the UGC.

“KBK region comprises 20 per cent of Odisha’s population but has only one Central University at Koraput. There is no State Government-run university for the affiliated colleges of the region,” said Gopabandhu Behera, a retired professor of Sambalpur University who is also the president of Sikhya Vikas Parishad of Kalahandi.

In 2008, Sambalpur University had proposed to set up a branch campus in Bhawanipatna and a UGC team had studied the proposal. However, no decision has been taken yet.

Meanwhile, students of the college and members of its alumni association have sent a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to look into its upgradation as university. On Tuesday, they staged a demonstration outside the collectorate. Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singh Deo and Digambar Patra, an associate professor of American University of Beirut who is also an alumni of the college, have written to the Chief Minister on the demand.

Students seek varsity tag for Bhawanipatna college

Thanks to Priya Abraham and Sandeep Sethi for their efforts.
Times of India, April 26, 2016

Cold shoulder to govt college

Thanks and appreciation to Priya Abraham, Prof. Chitta Baral and Sandeep Sethi for their support.
Telegraph, April 19, 2016

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160419/jsp/odisha/story_80834.jsp#.VxW55uZ97UZ

Students, locals protest against govt's apathy to set up university

Statesman (Kolkata), April 19, 2016

VARSITY TAG SOUGHT FOR B’PATNA GOVT COLLEGE

The Pioneer, April 18, 2016

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been urged to upgrade Government Autonomous College, Bhawaniptana, to an affiliated university for Kalahandi and Nuapada region.

Arguing that when the State Gvernment has decided to create affiliated universities for Puri-Nayagarh, Dhenkanal-Angul and Sundergarh-Deogarh (even for undivided Balesware alone), educationist and NRO Prof Digambara Patra said there is no reason why the same facility shoud not be extended to the Kalahandi-Nuapada region.

He suggested that socially, politically, economically, regionally and infrastructure wise it will be good to make three affiliated universities in KBK region one each at Jeypore, Bhawanipatna and Balangir, especially, when this region is well known for backwardness, low GER, poor regional distribution of higher educational institution and high concentration of tribal population.

Earlier Higher Education Task Force formed by the State Government had recommended to upgrade the Government Autonomous College, Bhawaniptana to an affiliated university for Kalahandi and Nuapada region. Indeed, the Government had also recommended in 2014-15 for upgrading of the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna to a university under RUSHA scheme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Unfortunately, due to lack of sufficient number of lecturers and other infrastructure facilities this could not be materialized, for which State Government is largely responsible, Patra said.

In 2008 the Sambalpur University had also proposed a branch campus in Bhawanipatna and a UGC team had inspected for the proposal, the fate of which is hanging. Incidentally, the Government Autonomous College,  Bhawanipatna was among the first three colleges in Odisha to receive Potential Center of Excellence by UGC; other two colleges (GM College and Khallikote College) have already been made Unitary Universities whereas Government Autonomous College, Bhawaniptana is being continuously neglected. Demand for conversion of Government autonomous college Bhawanipana into a regular university has been long standing for a decade, Patra maintained.   

NAVEEN URGED TO UPGRADE KBK COLLEGES TO VARSITIES

The Pioneer, April 14, 2016

Again the impoverished education condition of the KBK region has been brought to the attention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Prof Digambara Patra, a local of Kalahandi district and a faculty in the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon, in a letter to Patnaik, has sought conversion of the Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna, the Rajendra College, Balangir and the Bikram Dev College, Jeypore to affiliated universities.

Citing the need for boosting the education sector in the KBK region and how it has been discriminated against other parts of the State, Patra said though the region accounts for 30 per cent of the geography of the State and 20 per cent of the State’s population, yet there is only one university, the Central University of Orissa (CUO) at Koraput.

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar-Khordha region has already multiple numbers of national and State institutions including IIT, NISER, IIIT, AIIMS, five State Government universities, three private universities etc. whereas Brahmapur has a host of State Government institutions and two State Government universities along with newly established IISER. National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Rourkela and IIM in

Sambalpur will boost Sambalpur-Rourkela region. This region has three State Government universities in Sambalpur and one State university in Rourkela. North Odisha has also two State universities one each in Baleswar and Baripada. However, KBK is still deficient of the number of universities and institutes it deserves, he lamented.

He reminded of the fact that four years ago the higher education task force had recommended for upgrading Government Autonomous College Bhawanipatna, Rajendra College Balangir and Bikram Dev College Jeypore to affiliated universities. He attributed the raw deal to political apathy to KBK region and urged the Chief Minister for appropriate steps in this regard.

INJUSTICE TO SHIFT WAGON MILL FROM K’HANDI’

The Pioneer, April 5, 2016

uesday, 05 April 2016 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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Non-resident Odia (NRO) Prof Digambara Patra of the American University of Beirut, who is a native of Kalahandi, has lamented the shifting of the much-touted railway wagon maintenance workshop from the district, urging the Government of India to reconsider its decision.

In a letter to the President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Patra said since the wagon unit is a much desired project for Kalahandi, known for its endemic poverty and backwardness, the Government should not go for shifting it.

He said the project was okayed in 2010-11 Railway Budget in the form of a wagon factory.

However, due to State politics the wagon factory was shifted to Ganjam district, which is under construction. A subsequent strong public and intellectual protest in Kalahandi region resulted in further announcement of a railway wagon maintenance workshop in 2013. Then Railway Minister was Mamata Banerjee and Mukherjee was Finance Minister. However, recently the Railway Ministry has clarified about shifting of the workshop to Visakhapatnam citing feasibility study.

Parta questioned how the project was announced in the Parliament without a feasibility study then? Since such an announcement was especially made after keeping strong public reaction in mind, railway should have taken utmost care about the feasibility and other technical study before announcing any new project in Kalahandi. Now Kalahandi should not be penalized for the mistake made by the Railway Ministry, Patra argued.

The educationist also maintained that keeping strong public and regional sentiment of one of the backward pockets in India in view, shifting of such establishment to a neighbouring State without even considering alternative location in the same district is completely immoral and unethical.

Shifting of Wagon Maintenance Workshop is Injustice

To

Honorable President of India, Sri Mukherjee

Honorable Prime Minister of India, Sri Modi, 

CC

Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha, Sri Patnaik

Honorable Railway Minister

Dear Honorable President Sri Mukherjee and Honorable Prime Minister Sri Modi,

People of Kalahandi had been demanding for a railway Wagon factory to bring public sector manufacturing unit to catalyze their development activities in this backward pocket. Keeping such public demand in mind, ministry of railway was kind enough to announce a Wagon Factory in Kalahandi/Bhubaneswar in 2010-11 railway budget.

However, due to state politics this Wagon factory was shifted to Ganjam district of Odisha, which is under construction. However, a subsequent strong public and intellectual protest in Kalahandi region resulted various political and social outrages in the nation. At one point of time former railway minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee even had to intervene in the parliament and had promised in the parliament for another railway wagon factory in Odisha, especially for Kalahandi, if land is supplied by the state Govt. In one of the parliament sessions in 2012, honorable president Sri Mukherjee, then finance minister also took the issue to railway minister to establish a Wagon factory in Kalahandi.

With honorable president Sri Mukherjee’s commitment to people of Kalahandi, railway minister in 2013-14 rail budget thankfully announced a Wagon Maintenance Workshop in Kalahandi. However, recently railway ministry has clarified about shifting of Wagon maintenance workshop from Kalahandi to Visakhapatnam citing feasibility study.

Sir, as head of the nation and as prime minister of this country, both of you may be well aware that any Govt. establishment should not be announced in the parliament in a given location without any feasibility study. Then, how could ministry of railway announce Wagon Maintenance Workshop in Kalahandi in 2013-14 railway budget, especially in the parliament, without conducting proper feasibility study? Since such an announcement was especially made after keeping strong public reaction in mind, railway should have taken utmost care about the feasibility and other technical study before announcing any new project in Kalahandi, so that incident like shifting of earlier Wagon Factory in 2010-11 railway budget is not repeated. Now Kalahandi should not be penalized for the mistake made by railway ministry.

Secondly, honorable sirs, you are well aware that such a proposal was made keeping strong public and regional sentiment of one of the backward pocket in India, thus, shifting of such establishment to a neighboring state without even considering alternative location in the same district is completely immoral and unethical.

Interest of backward region like Kalahandi has greater aspiration to be as par with other parts of the region. Kalahandi has been recently performing exceptionally well in agriculture. Nevertheless, backward tag associated with Kalahandi is obstructing its developmental aspiration due to infamous perception; currently the region is fighting a perception battle. Therefore, along with agriculture, industrial and manufacturing sector development in the region is crucial for overall growth of this part of the nation.

I request you to kindly do not do injustice by repeatedly shifting proposed industrial development in the region due to political reasons. The injustice must be corrected, especially, when such injustice is being made by public and Government sector. Otherwise, the nation would fail to give equal right to each and every region and its people.    

Thank you

With best regards

PUNISH PEOPLE BEHIND K'HANDI ATTACK: NRO TO CHIEF MINISTER

The Pioneer, Aug 2, 2015

NRO and Kalahandi native Prof Digambar Patra of the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for a probe into the attack on peaceful demonstrators on August 28 in Kalahandi and bring the attackers to book.

He said that in the past few days there was a complete shutdown of Kalahandi in demand of converting Sardar Raja Medical College to a Government institution. The shutdown was called by independent and non-political organizations led by a central action committee, which was supported by all political parties, social and business organisations in Kalahandi.

Not to mention that there was a strong support from general people of Kalahandi, from village to town level, for this agitation, which was evident from the response the shutdown received in past two days. Perhaps such a level of success was to be seen for the first time in past two decades.

However, on August 28 last, a group of people attached some of the protestors, which included former Union Minister Bhakta Charan Das and a few people from Congress.

Kalahandi is a peaceful and peace loving region. Despite strong public frustration due to failure of Sardar Raja Medical College, people in Kalahandi are not used to violence.  Kalahandi people do not prefer violence and have been agitating peacefully.

The attack, which happened on August 28, is extremely condemnable. Though such attack was targeted at Das and his party colleagues, it is highly regrettable and common people of Kalahandi have not taken such attack lightly. All the political parties, lawyers association, private bus owners association, traders association, labour unions etc. in Kalahandi have come together for the common interest of region and given their complete support for the cause without keeping any political bias. Therefore, people of Kalahandi were not expecting that any group used such situation for political revenge, as it would dilute the cause and demean the interest of the region.

The attackers, who tried to bring politics and disturb peaceful environment of Kalahandi, must be brought into legal action. Unfortunately, the police have made no arrest yet.

Hoping that ovt. (A) College Bhawanipatna will be considered under RUSA

When we wrote:

Rural: For solving rural problems and generating high quality human resource in the socially backward rural pockets, India should build National Rural University in the line of Central University in each rural, backward and economically poor pocket and cluster across the nation. Kalahandi is a central place in KBK, Kandhamal region, thus, a National Rural University should be established in Kalahandi.

The reply from center is:
The Ministry has launched Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) - a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), in 2013 to address issues of equity, access and excellence in higher education.

WE HOPE UNDER RUSA, Govt. (A) College Bhawanipatna will be considered for a University status, which is our long standing demand.

NATIONAL LEVEL HEALTH INSTITUTE CAN END K’HANDI STIR

The Pioneer, Aug 18, 2015

The State Government has maintained a devilish silence over agitation in Kalahandi over a sorry state of affairs in the Sardar Raja Medical College in Jaring despite the stir has entered its 13th days.

It should be noted that Selvam Educational Trust had signed a MoU with the Odisha Government in 2004 to establish a medical college in Kalahandi. The State Government had provided Rs 10 crore during 2004-07 besides 25 acres of free land to the trust. As per the MoU, the  trust should have established the medical college within five years since signing the MoU. But it took almost a decade when the Medical Council of India (MCI) approved the medical college to take 100 students in 2013-14. Subsequently, in 2014-15, the MCI rejected the approval based on poor infrastructure. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court ruling for private medical college came as a relief and the college took another about 30 students in the year 2014-15. Now all these 130 students are nowhere in their medical education and their dream to be doctors has fallen like nine pins. Thanks to poor infrastructure, faculty crunch and administrative hurdles created by MCI and Sambalpur University, the college’s fate is hanging in balance.

The local people had warned the State Government about the duplicity of the Selvam Educational Trust which was not able to invest adequate amount to improve the infrastructure in the Sardar Raja Medical College in past 11 years. Its track record makes it clear that the trust has minimum expertise in establishing a medical college. Almost all the physical infrastructure building of the Sardar Raja Medical College has come from the Rs 10 crore given by the State Government through the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) and free land given to the trust. Since from the beginning the trust had not taken the project seriously, people of Kalahandi have been appealing to the State and Central Governments to establish a Government medical college (instead of WODC initiated private medical college) that would benefit poor and tribal population locally.

KBK region is one of the most backward and tribal dominated pockets in India. The health scenario, especially secondary and tertiary health facilities, is extremely poor. Kalahandi is a central district and Bhawanipatna is a central town in the KBK region. A Central Government medical institution at Bhawanipatna will give additional advantages in terms of secondary and tertiary health need for the poor people in an affordable way who are now forced to depend on hospitals outside the State. Such institution will also meet human resource requirement in the Health Department at the local level and poor and lower middle class students in the region can access medical education unlike in the private medical college.

Since the Odisha Government has failed to take appropriate steps and has ignored the genuine need of public demand in last five years, the public in Kalahandi has lost faith on it. It is unfortunate that when the Central Government is planning to establish 60 new Government medical colleges across India, it failed to take note of the need of a backward region like Kalahandi.

The situation in the district is deteriorating by the day. The Centre needs to intervene immediately and establish a Post Graduate Medical College and Research Center or KBK Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in Bhawanipatna, which would be in the line of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences and resolve the ongoing strike in Kalahandi.

(The writer is Associate Professor of Chemistry, American University of Beirut, Lebanon and a native of Kalahandi)

Resolve ongoing agitation in Kalahandi by establishing Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in Kalahandi (instead of Sardar Raja Medical College)

Aug 11, 2015

To

The Honorable Health & Family Welfare Minister Sri Nadda

cc

Honorable Prime Minister Sri Modi

Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha Sri Patnaik

Dear Honorable Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Nadda,

Students, intellectuals, leaders from all political parties including BJP, BJD, Congress, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, CPI etc. and general public in Kalahandi (Odisha) have been protesting to convert Sardar Raja Medical College in Jaring to a Govt. institution. The state Government of Odisha has maintained splendid silence on the issue despite 13 days of continuous public agitation, which is still continuing.

It should be noted that Selvam Educational Trust had signed a MoU with Odisha state Govt. in 2004 to establish a medical college in Kalahandi, for which state Govt. of Odisha had provided 10 crores of rupees during 2004-07 and 25 acres of free land to the said trust. As per the MoU, the said trust should have established the medical college within five years time period after signing MoU. But it took almost a decade when Medical Council of India (MCI) approved Sardar Raja Medical College established by Selvam Educational Trust to take 100 students in 2013-14. Subsequently, in 2014-15 MCI rejected the same  Sardar Raja Medical College based on poor infrastructure. Nevertheless, Supreme Court ruling for private medical college came as a relief and the said college took another about 30 students in the year 2014-15. Now all these 130 students are nowhere in their medical education and their dream to be a doctor is shattering day by day due to poor infrastructure, lack of faculty and administrative hurdles created by MCI and Sambalpur University.

The local people have been warning Odisha state Govt. about Selvam Educational Trust as the said trust was not capable to invest adequate amount to improve the infrastructure in the Sardar Raja Medical College in past 11 years, it has also minimum expertise in establishing medical college. All most all the physical infrastructure building of Sardar Raja Medical College has come from the 10 crore rupees given by Western Odisha Development Council (of Govt. of Odisha) and free land given to the trust by state Govt. Since from the beginning the trust had not taken the project seriously, people of Kalahandi have been appealing to the state and central Govt. to establish a Govt. medical college (instead of WODC initiated private medical college) that would benefit poor and tribal population locally.

KBK region is one of the most backward and tribal dominated pockets in India. The health scenario, especially secondary and tertiary health facilities, is extremely poor. Kalahandi is a central district and Bhawanipatna is a central town in the KBK region. A central Govt. medical institution at Bhawanipatna will give additional advantages in terms of secondary and tertiary health need for the poor people in an affordable way, who are now forced to depend outside the state. Such institution will also meet human resource requirement in the health department in the local level, and poor and lower middle class students in the region can access medical education unlike in the private medical college.

Since Odisha Govt. has failed to take appropriate steps and has brazened out the genuine need of public demand in last five years, public in Kalahandi are losing fastly faith. Recently your ministry and central Govt. of India is planning to establish 60 new Govt. medical colleges across India but at the same time it is failing to nourish a failing institution like Sardar Raja Medical college in backward location like Kalahandi.

The situation in Kalahandi is deteriorating day by day. Therefore, I request you to intervene immediately and establish a Post Graduate Medical College and Research Center or KBK Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in Bhawanipatna, which would be in the line of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences and resolve the ongoing strike in Kalahandi.

Thank you and best regards

NRI PROFESSOR URGES CM TO RESOLVE ISSUE

The Pioneer, Aug 10, 2015

Educationist Digambara Patra has urged the Chief Minister of Odisha to handle the student agitation in the Sardar Raja Medical College discretely and refrain from taking any action against the agitating students.

He said that any violent form of reprisal could further aggravate the situation.

In a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Prof Patra of the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, who is a native of Kalahandi district, urged Patnaik to personally monitor the situation in the Sardar Raja Medical College.

Patra said that the agitation is not limited to the medical college now; rather it has been an issue of non-availability of proper health facilities in Kalahandi district.

This is the reason why locals from Bhawanipatna, Dharamgarh, Jungarh, Kesinga and other places in Kalahandi have come in support of the students in the last week.

All political parties in Kalahandi too have backed the stir strongly.

Patra lamented that the people of Kalahandi are yet to get sophisticated healthcare facilities and have to depend on Visakhapatnam for any major health problem. “The infrastructure handicaps in the Sardar Raja Medical College are well known to whole of the State over past 11 years. The WODC and the Odisha Government should have been woken up to the issue much earlier,” said Patra.

The profesor has suggested that instead of further aggravating the public anger towards the administration and the State Government, it will be wise to resolve the issue peacefully as soon as possible by either converting the medical college into a health university or asa full State Government Medical College and Hospital. 

Avoid aggression and violence towards agitating students of Sardar Raja Medical College

Dear Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,

The students’ strike of Sardar Raja Medical College, Jaring has entered second week. However, it has come to the notice from various newspaper (Sambad, Sambalpur edition, Aug 7, 2015) and local people that Sardar Raja Medical College management and administration has threatened the agitating students for violence action. The campus has been sensitively in tense since past 24 hours and local public in Kalahandi has strongly come out in genuine support of students.

Public from Bhawanipatna, Dharamgarh, Jungarh, Kesinga and other places in Kalahandi have come in support of the students in the last week. All political parties in Kalahandi have also come strongly in support of the strike. The issue has been no more limited future of the agitating students only, it has become part of tertiary health facilities and hospital infrastructure in Kalahandi for the general people, who are forced to depend on Visakhapatnam for any major health problem.

The issue and infrastructure problems in Sardar Raja Medical College are well known fact to whole state since past 11 years. WODC and Odisha Govt. should have taken the project back five years ago when failures of Selvam Educational Trust were very well exposed to public, state Govt. and local administration. State Govt. and WODC were very late in taking appropriate action in right time.

So far, the strike for last two weeks has been very peaceful without any violence and damage to public property. The whole state is watching the development very closely. It will be very unwise and undemocratic if college management used violence against the peaceful demonstration of the students. Such action will rather bring and generate more public anger in the region and potentially could disrupt law and order situation in the region.

To keep the peaceful law and order in the region, I request you to kindly monitor the situation sensitively and personally by not allowing any violence action and aggression by the Sardar Raja Medical College Management and/or district administration towards agitating students and public for the cause of Sardar Raja Medical College.

Instead of further aggravating public anger towards the administration and state Govt., it will be wise to resolve the issue peacefully as soon as possible by either converting this college to a Health University or fully state Govt. medical college and hospital.

Thank you and best regards,

Digambara

Convert Sardar Raja Medical College to Govt. Health University or Govt. Medical College

Aug 4, 2015

Dear Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik,

Since past one week, students all over Kalahandi and intellectuals including leaders from BJD, BJP and Congress Party in Kalahandi have been protesting to take over Sardar Raja Medical College in Jaring to Govt. hand. I am very disappointed that Sardar Raja Medical College in Jaring is not capable of functioning as expected.

We had been warning the state Govt. since past five years that the Selvam Educational Trust is not capable to invest adequate amount to improve the infrastructure in the Sardar Raja Medical College and the said trust has minimum expertise in establishing medical college. From the beginning, the trust has not taken the project seriously. Most of the infrastructure building has come from the 10 crore rupees support of WODC and free Govt. land given to the trust.

Although Sardar Raja Medical College, Jaring got MCI approval and took 100 students in academic year 2013-14, later in 2014-15 MCI had rejected the institution based on poor infrastructure. Nevertheless, Supreme Court ruling for private medical college came as a relief and the said college took about 30 students in the year 2014-15, whose future is now in dark. All these 130 students are now nowhere in their medical education and their dream to be a doctor is shattering day by day due to poor infrastructure and administrative hurdles created by MCI and Sambalpur University, which are again related to lack of adequate infrastructure and faculty.

It is also not the case that faculty are unwilling to come to Kalahandi. Many physicians from far off Visakhapatnam are visiting private hospital in Kalahandi. The real issue is lack sufficient investment from Selvam Educational Trust to woo faculty members.

Incidentally, since past five years there has been a growing demand by the students, intellectuals, political leaders and public to either establish a fully Govt. medical college by upgrading district headquarter hospital and regional diagnostic center in Bhawanipatna or take over Sardar Raja Medical college completely as Govt. medical college. The issue had come many times in state assembly since past 10 years and a motion was also brought by opposition parties few years ago to make it a Govt. institution. Unfortunately, the ruling party that time did not realize gravity of such genuine demand and brazened the motion out due to politics.

To resolve the issue related to Sardar Raja Medical College immediately, many petitions and letters from individuals and through organizations have been submitted to the Chief Minister, but no appropriate action has been taken by the state Govt. to address the problem.

At this moment, Sardar Raja Medical College can’t function with its current poor infrastructure and faculty crunch unless Odisha Govt. directly intervene and take over it. As per the MoU (a copy of it is available with me), state Govt. had every right to cancel it if the institution would not be established fully within five years. Legally, in 2009 state Govt. or WODC had every right to cancel the MoU as Selvam trust had failed by then. However, today it is not late either. Lack of infrastructure and faculty by now gives sufficient legal ground to take over the institution by the state Govt.

In addition, financially state Govt. will not have much burden as state Govt. is already planning to establish a Health University in Odisha. Establishing Health University by converting Sardar Raja Medical College will also not bring any regional disparity because Bhubaneswar and surrounding region have already many private medical colleges and hospitals. Bhubaneswar has an AIIMS and Capital Hospital is becoming a postgraduate medical institution. Beside that Cuttack, Puri, Berhampur, Balasore, Baripada, Berhampur, Koraput, Balangir, Sambalpur, Talcher and Sundergarh have either an existing Govt. medical college or soon going to have a Govt. medical college. Rourkela has a WODC sponsored private medical college and a private medical college will come in Keonjhar. Therefore, taking over Sardar Raja Medical College and making it Health University for Odisha will neither bring additional cost to the state Government nor have any regional disparity.

Therefore, considering seriousness of the current genuine demand of the students and public all over Kalahandi, I urge you to take over Sardar Raja Medical College and make it Health University or fully Govt. medical college.

Thank you and best regards,

Digambara

NAVEEN URGED FOR 2ND AGRI VARSITY AT BHAWANIPATNA

The Pioneer, Aug 3, 2015

Monday, 03 August 2015 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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A ‘very quick and calm choice’ of Brahmapur as sole location for establishment of the proposed Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) of the State Government has been pooh-poohed by intellectuals of KBK districts.

The Government should have sent multiple locations for the proposed IISER like it did for the IIM in recent past. By sending one location, the State Government has once again neglected the KBK region, said Digambara Patra, Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry,

American University of Beirut, in his letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “Your Government’s sudden announcement for establishing IISER in Brahmapur came as a surprise. While your Government had sent multiple locations for the IIM keeping in view demands from various regions, Sambalpur people had to fight till the last moment to get the institute. While demand for the IISER was coming from various regions like Kalahandi, no multiple locations were ever proposed or scrutinized. This shows unfair treatment of State Government towards backward region like KBK,” Patra mentioned in the letter. 

Although people of Brahampur have every right and may deserve such an institution despite having dozens of State Government-run higher educational institutions, including two universities, it is very unfortunate that the Government has not come clear while establishing such an institution in the KBK region, lamented Patra.

Noting that most of the State and Central Government-run institutions are in four coastal districts Khordha, Puri, Cuttack and Ganjam, Patra wanted to know how the State Government, while choosing Brahmapur for the IISER, could rationally talk about inclusive and equitable growth across Odisha in higher education.

Stating that the IIM and the IISER are the contribution of the BJP-led Central Government, Patra reminded Patnaik of his party’s pre-poll promise of establishing a second Agriculture University in the State, which is hanging for more than a year now and his Government is yet to announce the same.

Unlike Brarhmapur, which was given IISER in the name of south Odisha, Bhawanipatna is well documented to be the best suitable place for Agriculture University in view of Kalahandi’s agricultural output records, Patra pointed out.

He said Kalahandi is the top most agriculture producer district among the KBK region and among the 25th largest rice producer districts in India. Besides, agriculture products in Kalahandi are very diverse unlike many other districts in the region. Bhawanipatna suits the interest for all the KBK districts and its proximity to all the existing Regional Research and Transfer Technology Stations and Substations of the OUAT in KBK and western Odisha region deserves the roposed Agriculture University.

The Kalahandi district Collector has already identified 500 acres of land for the possible university, he stated.