CM writes to HRDM that the second central university be in Koraput
August 6th, 2008
Following is from a news report in Statesman.
Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik suggested the establishment of the proposed Central university might be at Koraput and demanded for setting up IIT near Bhubaneswar to start as soon as possible.
In two separate missives to Union minister for human resources development Mr Arjun Singh today, the chief minister noted the establishment of proposed Central university at Koraput would reduce the existing disparity in education in the state. Maintaining that Koraput has been a backward region as far as education is concerned, Mr Patnaik said that besides 500 acres of land, the proposed site has water, power, road and rail connectivity.
"The Jeypore airstrip is just 30 km away from Koraput," the CM pointed out. "The Union government should send a technical team and start the university work soon," Mr Patnaik suggested.
He also put emphasis on the early set up of the IIT. The state government has identified 500 acres of land for this purpose and can make available more land. Assuring that the state government would provide all sorts of required support, the chief minister urged for early start of construction work.
Entry Filed under: Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri- Khurda area (1),Central University of Orissa, Koraput,Central-n-National Universities,IIT Bhubaneswar,IITs, IISc, IISERs, NISER, IIMs,Koraput-Jeypore-Sunabeda area (5)
7 Writeup
1. Digambara Patra | August 6th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Personally I am hurt by the decision of shifting from Kalahandi to Koraput despite CM promised on this issue. My emails/letters could not help my teacher’s struggle for a decade to have a central university in Kalahandi.
There are few learned persons who are fighting for central university in Kalahandi since last 10 years. It will be a jolt in the region and many will take it as a betrayal by Naveen Patnaik.
In the ground level there are few people in Kalahandi who think its a costal lobby to use Koraput as a proxy, they will find a reason now for Koshal movement.
In general Kalahandi has been betrayed since decades, it will too pass away.
2. Chitta Baral | August 6th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Dear Digambara:
At least it is in the KBK districts. It is hard to argue one location in KBK over the other. In July 2007 Central University in Koraput was suggested. See http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/304 . IIT in Koraput was mentioned in http://iit.orissalinks.com/vol0/2002%2009%2021%20iitorissa.pdf.
That is why multi-campus one would have been the right thing to do. A constructive approach would be to push your idea of (state) universities in each of the undivided KBK districts or write to have the Central university campuses in other KBK locations or both.
Also, the representatives from Kalahandi whom the CM had given assurance regarding the central university in http://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1123
should meet the CM and ask that he establish a state university in Bhawanipatna. If you have some connections please try that. A hue and cry from Kalahandi along those lines may work.
ps — What is the link between Koraput and coastal lobby? I did not understand that part.
3. Digambara Patra | August 6th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Dear Prof Baral,
Thank you for your mail.
Mainly people who want to make a separate state often argue in Kalahandi, Balangir region that Orissa Govt. dominated by costal orissa people (in their language there is two orissa, one costal, developed one and orther one western, underdeveloped and marginalized one) who use Koraput as a proxy for KBK development (as per them in actual local tribals are marginalised in Koraput region and who actually control the system is people from other parts of Orissa, according to them those from Berhapur and Bhubaneswar region).
They argue that since western orissa do not have a good political power (no. of MLAs in western part) their demand is ignored and counter their argument Koraput, other under developed and tribal region, is used as a shield. Incidents like KBK head quarter, central university etc give them enough fuel.
Kalahandi is a good example where one can see such change in a short period.
With best regards
Digambara
4. Siba Prasad | August 6th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
If someone thinks rationally, Rayagada is more suitable a place to have the central University than Koraput or Bhawanipatna. It is the only major rail junction in the entire south orissa and KBK region. Population wise it is bigger than both Koraput and Bhawanipatna. It is emerging as an industrial hub of South Orissa and is connected with the major cities of Orissa like Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Sambalpur by regular train service. It is also connected with Ahmedabad, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, New Delhi etc. So, going ahead with Koraput or Bhawanipatna, which are yet to be connected properly with the rest of Orissa will turn the Central University into a sub-regional University.
5. Digambara | August 6th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Looking at railway infrastructure it is right, but referring to Map of KBK it is not. Berhampur is not well connected to Balangir/Sambalpur region does not make IIIT Berhampur would be subregional qualities. Same like NIT Rourkela. Himcahl, Tamil Nadu, AP etc locating institutes based on region, why not Orissa?
Exactly, this is the way Orissa policy makers think, thats why the results in KBK are poor. In 2001 population chart Bhawanipatna had little larger in size than Rayagada. In KBK 2001 population chart was Jeypore, Balangir, Bhawanipatna. But population is not sole criteria, otherwise Orissa would lose in all respect, Bhubaeswar does not appear in even 20 populous cities of the India. When it comes to a region, then the region should be taken into consideration, central university is not the only case, there are many issues in KBK where Bhawanipatan does not get anything, except using Kalahandi tag.
6. Siba Prasad | August 7th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
No body can dispute the fact that Kalahandi needs more institutes. Same is the case with Koraput and Balangir. Poverty and backwardness has no degree as far as KBK and South Orissa is concerned. So, why not push for a multi campus C.U across the KBK region? For eg. the School of Humaninities can be located at Koraput, School of Sciences at Bhawanipatna, School of Languages at Balangir and School of Management and Computer Sciences at Rayagada or Phulbani.
This can be the only solution to the present impasse. As far as underdevelopment is concerned the whole of KBK and Phulbani must be viewed as a single entity and efforts to create divisions in this underdeveloped region must be avoided.
Since, the CM in the past had assured a C.U at Bhawanipatna, it is now imperative on his part to walk the talk and advocate the need for a multi-campus Central University for KBK as otherwise he will prove to be a turncoat.
7. Digambara Patra | August 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
yes, you are right,. this is what Prof Baral earlier proposed. but it seems Orissa CM did not take is seriously. many of us wrote about it. when center proposed Indira gandhi national tribal university and central universities in those states which does not have any one, cental govt. diluted Prof baral’s suggestion and
orissa govt. did not take is very seriously later on.
i also agree with you that Koraput, Banalagir, Phulbani also deserves along with Bhawanipatna. but Orissa’s Govt. policy is different, does not distribute equally.