Odisha HRD

On Central University matters Bihar is awake, Orissa is sleeping

October 6th, 2007

(Request to readers associate with Orissa: Please send a request to cmo@ori.nic.in with  cc to hedsec@ori.nic.in, "indsec@ori.nic.in" <indsec@ori.nic.in>)

The  last paragraph of  the New Indian Express report says the following:

Fatmi said that the Central Government proposed to set up a Central University in Bihar as part of its plans for 30 new Universities. Though the University Grants Commission (UGC) suggested the upgradition of Patna University, the Government wanted to set up Central University, besides upgrading Patna University.

However, although we have sent several communications to the Orissa government on making a similar effort for a second central university for Orissa — beyond the automatic one presumably in the KBK region, the Orissa government has been silent. Tathya.in reports on our efforts and the resulting frustration.

Following are mails that we have sent to the CMO.

Dear Esteemed Chief Minister:

On August 15th the PM announced that there will be 30 new central universities, with 16 of them in states that do not have any. (That means Orissa will get one and since Orissa has been asking for a central university in KBK, it should go to KBK.)

As per the PM’s address to the planning commission few weeks back, the remaining 14 central universities will be decided on the basis of competition. See https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=634 and https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=652.

Since India already has 23 central universities (none among them is in Orissa)  and the new 30 ones will take the total to 53, Orissa deserves not just one  but two central universities. (Note: Orissa is the 11^th largest state of India in terms of population and 9^th largest in terms of area.)

But as the PM  clearly said, the 14 (30-16) central universities will be decided  on a competitive basis. THUS, Orissa govt. must send a proposal on this to the HRD ministry and the PM. This needs to be done as soon as possible as the PM gave 2 months time to the planning commission for deciding on the locations and close to 3 weeks has already gone by.

I would like to propose that the Orissa govt., send a proposal immediately to upgrade Ravenshaw University as a central university.

This is because Ravenshaw matches the best with respect to all the conditions that the PM mentioned in his address to the planning commission. In particular:

1. Ravenshaw is a unitary university. i.e., Like world class universities such as most universities in the United States, and like most of the existing central universities in India (such as JNU, BHU etc.) Ravenshaw does not have any affiliated colleges.

2. Ravenshaw‘s location at the heart the millennium city of Cuttack and also in the middle of the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack metropolitan area makes it easy to access and the presence of top-notch educational and research institutions near it makes Ravenshaw a good candidate for becoming a world-class knowledge hub; i.e., a world class central university. (The PM mentioned this criteria explicitly.)

3. Ravenshaw had made plans for its expansion in directions that are in unison with the goal of a world class university that the PM talked about.

4. Among all universities in India that may be considered for an upgrade, Ravenshaw is in a unique position by virtue of its recent designation as a university. The existing faculty of Ravenshaw are Government of Orissa faculty and are not automatically entitled to be Ravenshaw faculty. So Ravenhsaw can be choosy in retaining only the ones that are qualified to be a faculty in a world class university. The others may revert back to the Government of Orissa to be posted to other colleges in Orissa.
5. Finally, Ravenshaw is one of the oldest higher education institutions of India with a glorious past. Its alumni is almost who’s who of Orissa. 

In closing, I would urge you to not miss this opportunity for making a case for a second central university in Orissa. Otherwise we will continue to remain behind, while other states will have 2, 3 or more central universities.

sincerely,
Chitta Baral

Entry Filed under: Appeal to readers,Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri- Khurda area (1),Central University of Orissa, Koraput,Koraput-Jeypore-Sunabeda area (5),Ravenshaw University, Cuttack