Odisha HRD

Odisha government makes guidelines for new private universities; impact on the various applications

The following bullet points about the guidelines are from this article in tathya.in.

• The committee that will examine the proposals based on the guidelines will be headed by the Chief Secretary and Secretary of the Higher Education will be the Member Convener.
• Each private university shall be established by a separate Act, which will be passed by Odisha Legislative Assembly.
• Private university shall fulfill the minimum criteria in terms of programs, faculty, infrastructural facilities and financial viability.
• Any college opting to establish a private university should have been in existence for at least 15 years in the state, however in deserving cases the State Government may relax the condition of 15 years for
  institutes of national and international repute.
• In ‘De Novo’ university category, where no such institution belonging to the promoter exists within Odisha as on date of commencement of the university will be devoted to unique and emerging areas of knowledge. These institutions should be promoted by persons/institutions of proven merit and reputation. Selection of universities in this category will be made by a committee of experts comprising eminent academicians and the Secretary of the department concerned dealing with the subject.
• Infrastructure requirement: At least 15 acres of land in urban area and 30 acres of land in non-urban area will be needed. For administrative building 1000 square meter and academic building 10,000 square meter will be required for a private university. Residential accommodation for teachers and hostel accommodation for students will be required.
• Corpus Fund: For institutions conducting professional program such as Engineering & Technology and Medicine it will be Rs.8 crore, where as for Management and Law it will be Rs.5 crore and for other programs Rs.4 crore kitty will be needed. For institutions conducting both professional and other programs will have Rs.10 as Corpus Fund, while for the ‘De Novo’ category of university; the Corpus Fund will be Rs.25 crore.
• Financial viability of the institution will be verified by the audited statements of accounts of the institutions for the previous 5 years.
• The Chancellor of the university will be an eminent educationist or a distinguished public figure and there will be no Pro-Chancellor.
• The Board of Management will be headed by the Vice Chancellor with the body consisting a minimum of 10 and maximum of 12 Members.

In the link https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/7127 we have the list of applicants as of 8/20/2011. Let us analyze some of those application in terms of the above criteria. (In that we will use the link https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/6243 which includes the dates when various professional colleges were started.)

• Centurion: Established on 12/23/2010. Its main constituent JITM started in 1997.
• Sri Sri: Act passed by GOO on 12/26/09. Classes to start in Fall 2012. Would have been considered in the de-novo category.
• ICFAI: Act passed by GOO on 3/9/10. No progress since then. Would have been considered in the de-novo category.
• Vedanta University: Bill passed by OLA in December 2009. Awaiting governor’s assent. Also awaiting supreme court verdict on land acquisition.
• Jagadguru Kripalu University: Would be considered in de-novo category.
• Xavier University: XIMB was started in 1987.
• Techno Global University: Techno started in 2005. It will have 15 years experience in 2020.
• Amrita Viswa Vidyapeetham University: Would be considered in de-novo category.
• Synergy University: Synergy started in 1999. It will have 15 years experience in 2014.
• Women’s university of Technology: Not sure about the foundation that is behind this. Could be KISD. KISD was started in 2001.
• Private University by Rai foundation: Would be considered in de-novo category.
• Amity University: Would be considered in de-novo category.
• University of Corporate Excellence: Would be considered in de-novo category.
• Silicon University: Silicon was started in 2001.
• ASBM University: Not sure when ASBM was started.
• Divine Global University by Divine Education Trust, Delhi: No idea about the trust behind it.
• GIET University, Gunupur: GIET was started in 1997.
• C. V. Raman International University Bhubaneswar: C. V. Raman was started in 1997.
• JPM University by Shree Chandulal Minda Memorial Trust: Do not know about this trust.
• Krupajal National University: Krupajal was started in 1999.
• Manipal: Would be considered in de-novo category.
• Odia University: Would be considered in de-novo category.
• Edu City in Rourkela by Knowledge Foundation, Jail Road, Jharpada, Bhubaneswar: Do not know about this trust.

So among the above XIMB, GIET and CVRaman have the required 15 years experience; Synergy and Krupajal will have that in 2014.

July 28th, 2012

JSPL plans a medical college and a power training college in Angul

Following is from a report in Pioneer.

Jindal Steel and Power Limited( JSPL) would set up a medical college and power training college along with one vocational college in Odisha, said vice president and Managing Director of the JSPL Naveen Jindal.

Jindal who made a courtesy call on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik … At the same time, we want to be the partner in the development process and the progress of the State”, he said.

He informed that JSPL had plans to invest a whopping Rs.1.20 lakh crore in the State. Giving details of JSPLs investment proposals, he said that at the moment, a 6 MTPA steel plant was under construction and the plant would be upgraded to a mega steel cluster with the record steel production capacity of 20 MTPA , a first of its venture.in the world.

He said the construction of the proposed Angul integrated steel project with a captive power plant is progressing with a faster pace and would start production by August, 2011.

The captive power plant has already been commissioned, he said.

He reiterated that JSPL would set up its coal to liquid project at Angul, first of its kind in the country for which the Central Government has already given green signal with according coal block.

He said that his company proposed to put up a mega industrial park where, small industries would set up their units . The project would provide employment to around 25,000 people majority of whom would be locals, he said.

He has a pat for the local people of Angul and the State Government for extending cooperation in putting up the industrial projects.

He said as part of the corporate social responsibility, JSPL has taken steps to provide adequate compensation to the land losers and is taking steps to the capacity building of the local youth through training to increase their employability skills. To cater to the local needs, he said the company has decided to set up a vocational college and first power training college at Angul.

Besides, he said., JSPL has decided to put up a medical college and hospital at Angul along with a school to provide quality education.  …

Earlier MCL had announced a medical college in Talcher. So now there will be two medical  colleges in the Angul-Talcher area.

2 comments May 25th, 2011

OP Jindal-IGNOU community colleges in Angul and Barbil

These will be the first institutes in Odisha labelled as community colleges. The one in Angul is already operating. Its web page is http://opjcc.org/Angul.htm.

3 comments May 13th, 2011

Dr. RN Kabat joins as the Promoter-Director of the Mahanadi Medical Education Trust

Following is from Orissadiary.com.

Dr RN Kabat joined as the Promoter-Director of the Mahanadi Medical Education Trust, which has been set up to establish a medical college here and run ensure its smooth functioning.

Dr Kabat worked as the chief of medical services in three subsidiaries of the Coal India, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd, Eastern Coalfields Ltd and Central Coalfields Ltd before retirement.
During his tenure at the MCL, he oversaw the setting up of the 250-bed Netaji Subash Central Hospital and the Nursing College at Talcher.

A surgeon of repute, Dr Kabat brings with him his vast experience in managing multi-functional hospitals.

With his appointment, the MCL hopes to set up the proposed medical college at the earliest.

The responsibility of this position is described in this ad. Following are some excerpts.

1. Candidate will act as a Promoter Director of Mahanadi Medical Education Trust having broadly to carry out the following activities.

2. To convene the meeting of Mahanadi Medical Education Trust as well as liaisoning with State / Central Govt. Agencies / Medical Council of India / University Authorities relating to establishment of a new Medical College.

3. To obtain Essentiality / No Objection Certificate from the State / Central Govt. / any other Authority as required

4. Take initiative in planning & designing the Institute infrastructure through appropriate agencies and its approval from the Competent Authority.

5. Preparation of Annual Budget and presentation before the Trust / Board

6. Take initiative for Manpower Planning

7. Construction of infrastructure of the Institute

5 comments April 20th, 2011

Expression of interest for survey, design & estimate for Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science & Research in Talcher

Following is from http://mcl.gov.in/Expression_of_interest_for_survey.pdf. I do not know when it was posted.

Expression of interest for survey, design & estimate for Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science & Research along with 500 bedded Super Specialist Hospital, Boys & Girls hostel separately for 100 intake each year, hostel for internship students, nurses training school-cum-hostel, staff nurse hostel, residential complex for executives and non-executives of different grade

Mahanadi Medical Education trust is going to setup a Medical College along with 500 bedded Hospital and necessary hostel, residential complex on a vacant land of 60 Acres (Approx) (Financial by MCL), in Talcher, dist Angul, Orissa. The Promoter Director Mahanadi Medical Education Trust, Talcher (Orrisa) invites expression of interest from experienced organization / Designer / Planners for survey, design and estimate for Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science & Research along with 500 bedded Super Specialist Hospital, Boys and Girls Hostel separately for 100 intake each year, Hostel for Internship Students, Nurses Training School-cum-Hostel, Staff Nurse Hostel, residential complex for executives and non-executives of different grade as per IMC norms.

THE SCOPE OF WORK AS FOLLOWS :

(1) Survey of the – Proposed construction site of Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science and Research and preparation of layout plan landscaping etc.

(2) Detail design, drawing and estimate for construction of Medical College along with 500 bedded Super Specialist Hospital.

(3) Detail design, drawing, estimate for boys and girls hostel separately.

(4) Detail design, drawing and estimate for internship student’s hostel.

(5) Detail design, drawing and estimate for Nurses training school-cum-hostel.

(6) Detail design, drawing and estimate for Staff nurse hostel.

(7) Detail design, drawing and estimate for residential complex.

(8) Entire development of the area including road, sewerage line, electrification, street lighting etc.

(9) Hospital and college should be centrally air conditioned.

The firm will prepare detail design, drawing and estimate for the above and carry out the above activities in line with MCI norms.

The firm will prepare and submit the tender documents for award of contracts. The firm will be responsible for periodical supervision of the site during execution. The supervision should be made minimum once in a month.

The applicant should apply along with the flowing relevant supporting documents latest by 3 weeks from the date of publication:

(a) Company’s profile, Organizational set-up and details of technical personal should be specified.

(b) Details of experience for designing such a Medical College and Hospital.

Interested firms may like to quote their rates for each activity separately.

Any clarification in this regard can be sought in person or over phone from the office of Promoter Director, Mahanadi Medical Education Trust, Talcher (Orrisa).

The management reserves the right to accept or reject any offer without assigning any reason what to ever.

Promoter Director Mahanadi Medical Education Trust

Expression of interest for survey, design & estimate for Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science & Research along with 500 bedded Super Specialist Hospital, Boys & Girls hostel separately for 100 intake each year, hostel for internship students, nurses training school-cum-hostel, staff nurse hostel, residential complex for executives and non-executives of different grade

Mahanadi Medical Education trust is going to setup a Medical College along with 500 bedded Hospital and necessary hostel, residential complex on a vacant land of 60 Acres (Approx) (Financial by MCL), in Talcher, dist Angul, Orissa. The Promoter Director Mahanadi Medical Education Trust, Talcher (Orrisa) invites expression of interest from experienced organization / Designer / Planners for survey, design and estimate for Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science & Research along with 500 bedded Super Specialist Hospital, Boys and Girls Hostel separately for 100 intake each year, Hostel for Internship Students, Nurses Training School-cum-Hostel, Staff Nurse Hostel, residential complex for executives and non-executives of different grade as per IMC norms.. The last date of submission of interest is 3 weeks from the date of publication of the notice.

For further details regarding Scope of Work and other conditions please visit our website www.mahanadicoal.nic.in or www.tenders.gov.in

Promoter Director Mahanadi Medical Education Trust

2 comments April 2nd, 2011

Higher education moves by the Odisha state government outside of the Capital area during the last 5 years [work in progress]

To get a clear picture on higher education moves by the state government (during the last 5 years) outside of the capital area (Khurda, Cuttack and Puri districts) we try to list the moves. Many fully centrally funded institutes are mentioned as the state contributes by free land and in making the location decision. (Note that Odisha has 30 districts.)

What has been done so far (including under construction):

1. Central University of Orissa, Dist – Koraput
2. Upgradation of UCE Burla to VSSUT, Dist – Sambalpur
3. Private University status to Centurion, Dist – Gajapati
4. Government Engieering College, Bhawanipatna, Dist – Kalahandi
5. College of Agriculture, Bhawanipatna, Dist – Kalahandi
6. WODC funds and free land for Private Medical College, Jaring, near Bhawanipatna, Dist – Kalahandi  (significant part of the construction is complete)
7. Pushed Vedanta to establish Vedanta Science College in Lanjigarh, Dist – Kalahandi
8. Parla Maharaj Engineering College, Berhampur, Dist-Ganjam
9. Special SUIIT institute as part of Sambalpur University, Dist – Sambalpur
10. WODC funds for Hi-Tech Medical College, Rourkela, Dist – Sundergarh (under construction) 
11. Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, Baragarh
12. College of Horticulture, Chipilima, Dist – Sambalpur

The districts involved above and the number of items for them are: Baragarh (1), Gajapati (1), Ganjam (1), Kalahandi (4), Koraput (1), Sambalpur (3), Sundergarh (1). If one takes the funding amount as the criteria then Koraput comes at the top.

Some of the announcements that are most likely to happen in 1-3 years as reported in the news:

1. Pushed MCL to agree to make a medical college in Talcher
2. Pushed NTPC to agree to make a medical college (location not announced)
3. Pushed NTPC to agree to make a Power Institute (location not announced)
4. Announced that all three medical colleges (includes Berhampur, Sambalpur) will be autonomous starting with the one in Sambalpur.
5. Announced that Khallikote College Berhampur will be made to a university
6. Proposed that one of the 20 IIIT should be in Berhampur.
7. Pushing to upgrade FCI Balangir to an Institute of Hotel Management
8. Grants to XIMB to open a campus in Balangir
9. Grants to XIMB to open a campus in Sambalpur
10. Support for a CIPET campus in Balasore
11. Upgradation of GM College, Sambalpur to a university (announed by Higher Education Minister)

The districts involved in the above two lists and their number of items are: Angul (1), Balasore (1), Balangir (2), Baragarh (1), Gajapati (1), Ganjam (4), Kalahandi (4), Koraput (1), Sambalpur (6), Sundergarh (1).

The districts that are left out are: Bhadrak, Bouda, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kandhamala, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada and Sonepur.

Besides the above there have been reports about government willing to give grants to several private medical colleges in various places and the WODC has tried (but failed) to entice (through grants and free land) a private party to establish a medical college in Balangir.

Also, I think the government will implement some of the recommendations made by the higher education task force.

Please suggest missing items in the comments section. Any capital-bashing comments will be deleted as the purpose of this post is to get a clear picture of what is happenning and not happening in the higher education side outside of the capital districts of Khurda, Cuttack and Puri.

Again, this list is to get a clear picture of what has happened in the non-capital area districts so that one can make an informed decision if the government is biased towards some non-capital districts over other non-capital districts. (There is no argument that the bulk of the moves have been made favoring the capital area. So no discussion on that.)

In regards to my personal view on what the government ought to do, it is listed in details in the site http://orissa2020.org.

The above list should not be interpreted in isolation. For example, one should not conclude that Kalahandi got too much. It got several institutions because it started from very little and the education conscious people of Kalahandi have been rightly demanding for higher education institutions for a long time. But at the same token, arguing that Kalahandi has been neglected by this government with respect to higher education just goes against the facts above and I worry that the well-meaning people who are making such arguments may be harming their cause. I guess the argument comes from losing the central university to Koraput. But then every district other than Koraput (and the capital districts) can use that argument. [If there is interest I will explain more on my take on this in the comments section.]

As an analogy, in 2005 we could rightly argue that the central government neglected Odisha with respect to centrally funded higher education institutions. But if we now say that the UPA government  neglected Odisha with respect to centrally funded higher education institutions, we will be laughed at, and our efforts will have negative impact. So we plan to use finer arguments and location specific arguments to push for central institutions in Odisha for the 12th plan.

Kalahandi people wanting more institutions in Kalahandi should think of other ways to make their case and irritating the state government and its bureaucrats with arguments that go against the facts (see list above) may help some politicians but has a higher potential to harm Kalahandi’s case than help its case.

44 comments March 29th, 2011

IGIT, CET, VSSUT, NIT RKL selected to proceed further on the TEQIP-II program

(Thanks to Biswa for the pointer.)

Update: It looks like IGIT Sarang was the only one in the 25 government colleges that are eligible (under sub component 1.1) to submit an Institutional Developmental Proposal (IDP). VSSUT and CET are in the list of Ineligible (under sub componnet 1.1) Govt. funded/aided institutions (for which the state is ready to co-sponsor) that can submit again for compliance of eligibility conditions & then submit IDPs. There are no private institutions from Odisha under sub component 1.1.

There are no eleigible institutions from Odisha under sub-component 1.2. NIT Rourkela is in the list of Non-Eligible Institutions (for which State is ready to co-sponsor) shortlisted for compliance of eligibility conditions for participation in the Project under Sub-Component 1.2.

The following table lists the institutions that applied from Oidsha, their over all scores and the problems they had (if any).

As per http://www.npiu.nic.in/faq.htm sub component 1.1 is about  Strengthening institutions to improve learning outcomes and employability of graduates and Sub-component 1.2 is about Scaling-up postgraduate education and demand driven R&D and innovation.

One  of the requirement for the BOG is that it be headed by an eminent industrialist/engineering academician with adequate representation from other stakeholders.

So it is not clear what the Telegraph article below is talking about.

As per the report in http://telegraphindia.com/1101207/jsp/orissa/story_13265662.jsp the five Colleges are:

• DRIEMS, Tangi, Cuttack
• NIST, Berhampur
• CEB, Bhubaneswar
• VSSUT, Burla
• IGIT, Sarang

The details of the program is at http://www.npiu.nic.in/faqi.htm. From a quick reading it seems that the government institutions will get about 10 crores each and the private ones about 4 crores each.

1 comment December 7th, 2010

Various private universities in the pipeline in Odisha

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

The proposed institutions are: Vedanta University at Puri-Konark marine drive, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar University at Naraj in Cuttack, Institute of Charted Financial Analysts of India (Icfai) University in Bhubaneswar and Centurion University of Technology and Management at Parlakhemundi in Gajapati district.

According to agreement, the Vedanta University was to be given 6,000 acres and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar University 185 acres.

The Vedanta group has already been given 3,500 acres. The quantum of land for the other two universities is yet to be decided.

The proposed Sri Sri University will cater to the needs of 15,000 students with 1,500 faculty members.

While the Centurion University will concentrate, among other things, on distance education, the Icfai University will “provide instruction, teaching, training and research in specialised areas”.

According to sources, apart from the four varsities, the government has received 11 more proposals from the private sector.

These are Jagatguru Krupalu University (Jagatguru Krupalu Trust), Xavier University, Techno Global University (Calcutta-based Techno Indo group), Maa Anandamayai Viswavidyalaya (Maa Anandamayi Trust), Synergy University (Shivani Educational Charitable Trust from Orissa), Women’s University Technology (Sarala Foundation, Orissa), Private University of Rai Foundation (Rai Foundation), University of Corporate Excellence (Infotech Park Limited), Amity University, Silicon University (Silicon Valley investment, Orissa) and ASBM University (HRD group, Bhubaneswar).

State higher education secretary Madhu Sudan Padhi said the government had agreed “in principle” to the proposals of Xavier University and Maa Anandamayai University.

Padhi said that the NRIs were in touch with the state government to invest in the field of education.

“NRI Groups from San Francisco are interested in investing Rs 150 crore in higher education. Preliminary discussions have already been held and another round of talks will be held in December,” he said.

November 17th, 2010

Post-diploma courses in Industrial Safety

Four institutions in Odisha offer this course this year. See the Samaja ad below.

Last year three additional institutes offered this course.

3 comments October 31st, 2010

NTPC interested in a power engineering college in Talcher; CM suggests him to also consider a medical college (From Dharitri)

1 comment October 22nd, 2010

More industries in Odisha sign up to make ITIs and ITCs

Following is an excerpt from an IANS report with the locations added by me.

The Orissa government Friday signed agreements with six more companies for setting up industrial training centres in the state, an official said.

… The companies which signed the agreements through their representatives were GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited (Dhenkanal), IMFA Limited, Deepak Steel and Power Limited (Barbil), Bhusan Energy Limited (Dhenkanal), BRG Iron and Steel Co Private ltd (Dhenkanal) and Lanco Babandh Power ltd (Dhenkanal).

These companies will establish at least one industrial training centre at identified locations, the official said.

There is an annual requirement of 140,000 to 180,000 trained personnel in highly-skilled, semi-skilled and non-executive workforce in metal and manufacturing sector in the state alone. The government has signed the agreements as part of its steps to bridge the gap between demand and supply, the official said.

As per the agreement, the state government will identify and transfer required land on payment and the company will develop required infrastructure within one year of taking the land.

The government had earlier this year signed similar pacts with different private companies for setting up 20 industrial training centres at different identified locations,…

With the latest agreements, the number of proposed industrial training centres in the state for which pacts were signed reached 26, he said.

In another recent news NALCO’s ITI in Damanjodi was inaugurated by the CM recently. Following is an excerpt from a report in indiaeducationdiary.

The Chief Minister of Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik, laid the Foundation-stone for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) today in Damanjodi …

With an objective to provide training facility to the local students of periphery villages of M&R Complex, Damanjodi, the ITI is being set up through Public-Private Participation (PPP) mode. Initially, an amount of Rs. 1 crore 16 lakhs has been set aside by NALCO from its periphery development fund for the purpose. Setting up of the ITI also aims at enhancing the skill-sets of local youths and helps them to enhance their employability in future, in view of the rapid industrialization in the State.

Students from tribal & weaker sections from the periphery villages will be given priority in admissions, apart from other students of the area in the upcoming ITI. Recurring expenditure to run the institute will be met out of the periphery development fund of NALCO. The land for setting up the institute & other facilities will be provided by District Administration.

1 comment September 24th, 2010

Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Dhenkanal to be upgraded

Following is from the PIB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=64336. The part relevant to Dhenkanal has been put in a different colour.

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Smt. Ambika Soni has said that under the new initiatives taken to position IIMC as an apex institution for providing quality education in the field on Media and entertainment, the endeavour was to establish facilities, curriculum and courses at par with Global Standards. A roadmap to initiate the process had already begun wherein classes at the four Regional Centres at J&K, Kerala, Maharashtra and Mizoram would commence from the next academic session at the facilities being provided by the State Governments. For this purpose, under the 12^th Plan, funds would be provided to establish the full fledged facilities at the four Regional Centres. The Minister stated this while delivering her address at the 43^rd Convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication here today.

Elaborating on the details of the up-gradation being undertaken at Delhi and Dhenkenal, the Minister said that an up-gradation of the One-Year PG Diploma Course to Two-Year Advanced PG Diploma Course would be undertaken along-with seeking equivalence to Masters Degree for the Two-Year PG Diploma Courses from Ministry of Human Resources Development. As a new initiative, introduction of at least two new Two-Year PG Diploma Courses (one each in Development Journalism and Corporate Communication & Media Management) would be undertaken. For the infrastructural development, expansion of the existing buildings at Delhi and Dhenkanal and construction of new buildings for accommodating two batches of students at a time would be undertaken along-with procurement of latest technical equipment and filling up all vacancies in the teaching as well as non-teaching category. The Minister added that these initiatives would not only provide quality manpower to the industry, the training imparted would also ensure availability of skills, talent and professionalism with proper grooming at the inception level.

Smt. Soni further said that the growth of the media and entertainment industry had been one of the success stories of the Indian Economy.  The growth of the media and entertainment industry was expected to grow provisionally at Rs.652billion in 2010, culminating to Rs.1091 billion in 2014.  The CAGR was for the period was expected to be around 13%.  This growth rate was due to the development in regional markets as well as different media formats.    This growth, the Minister added  could be sustained only if talented and skilled persons added value to the sector through their professional inputs. Hence ,capacity building was a major challenge for any Government. As a consequence,  the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had also  undertaken specific measures to look into the needs of the Human Resources and skill upgradation in the film and animation sector.

            The Minister further added that apart from IIMC, efforts were being made to reposition the Film and Television Institute of India at Pune as a world class Institute by upgrading and modernising its infrastructure and facilities. A Detailed Project Report was being finalised. An outlay of Rs.52 crore has been proposed for this scheme during the 11^th Five Year Plan. Similarly, in order to look into the growing demand of trained professionals in the sphere of Animation, Gaming and Visual Effects, it has been decided that a specialized National Centre for Animation, Gaming and Visual effects will be set up to provide training and upgrading skills. For this scheme also, a DPR is under preparation.  For the animation sector,Smt.Soni said, the ministry was open to the idea  of  developing a Public Private Partnership model with interested stakeholders.

            A total number of 259 students were awarded diploma for courses in Hindi & English Journalism, Advertising & PR, Radio & Television and Oriya Journalism. 44 students of IIMC, Dhenkanal were given diplomas in English Journalism.

3 comments August 7th, 2010

Kalinganagar citizens ask for central school, engineering college & medical college

Following is from a report in Pioneer.

The Vyasa Nagar Nagarik Committee has demanded a Central School, an engineering college and a medical college at Vyasa Nagar and Kalinga Nagar. It placed its demand to the Jajpur Collector on Sunday. The 12-point charter of demands was also sent to the Chief Minister, Finance Minister and local Korai MLA Preeti Ranjan Ghadai.

In a unanimous resolution passed at a meeting of the committee, it was alleged that in the name of development of a steel city in the Kalinga Nagar-Vyasa Nagar area the local people are exploited by industrialists. Industrial units like Jindal, NINL and VISA have come up in the area and very soon Tata Steel is likely to start its plant in the locality.

The committee noted that so far no industrial house has done any social service in the area though many of them established their industries about four years ago. They are only polluting the entire area with dust and smoke. So far, they have not extended any help to set up any school, college, hospital, market complex or even staff quarters in the area. This is despite the fact that the industries are depending on Vyasa Nagar as the gateway to the industrial hub of Kalinga Nagar.

Now, the population of the Vyasa Nagar Municipality has crossed the mark of one lakh, that too only for the steel industries. The road conditions of the Vyasa Nagar and Kalinga Nagar areas are pathetic. The educated youth of the locality are not getting jobs in the plants. Even diploma and ITI certificate holders are posted as labourers, the committee pointed out.

… The committee, headed by its president Dr HK Sahu, and secretary Duryodhan Rout, met the Collector at Jajpur Town and placed the demands before him. The others associated in the committee are senior journalist Krishna Chandra Samal, Rishi Agrawal and Alekh Mallick. They warned the Government that the committee would resort to agitation if the demands are not met by July 30.

Although I am originally from that area, I have not yet taken special interest towards it. It is good to see that a local citizen committee has finally started making the demands.

I believe that industrial and mining places should be provided with appropriate HRD facilities so that the bad apsects of industries and mining are balanced with the good aspects. The places of this category with a lot of operating industries, mines or both that the Odisha government has some what neglected so far and needs to pay immediate attention are: Paradeep, Kalinganagar, Jharsuguda-Ib valley (encompasses part of Sundergarh district), Joda-Barbil, Keonjhar, Rayagada and Angul-Talcher. Among these places, Keonjhar and Talcher have an engineering college and MCL is making a medical college in the Talcher area.

3 comments July 20th, 2010

M.Tech programs offered by Engineering Colleges, other institutions and universities in Odisha

Following is extracted from multiple sources including http://www.aicte-india.org/excel/29jun/ORISSA.html. 

The * implies that I am not sure of the number. The number I have in that case may be a few years old. The above adds up to 1830+372* seats total. Out of which 1112+318* seats are in the greater Bhubaneswar (including Dhenkanal) area.

My guess is that majority of these M.Tech’s (at least 50-60%) would go into teaching. This should definitely help the faculty quality of the engineering colleges and programs in Odisha. In a few years IIT Bhubaneswar is going to start M.Tech. That would help the situation further.

3 comments July 16th, 2010

13 more industries sign MOU with Odisha government for establishing ITCs

Earlier in https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/4700 we reported about 8 companies signing MOU with Odisha government to establish ITCs. Those companies were: Orissa Power Generation Corporation (Hemagiri), Tata Power Ltd (Banki), Emami Paper Mills (Balgopalpur), RSB Metaltech (P) Ltd (Kalyansinghpur), Surrendra Mining Industries Ltd (Bonei), Monnet Ispat and Energy Ltd (Teleibani), Uttam Utkal Steels (Jhumpura), Ind-Barath Energy (Utkal) Ltd (Lakhanpur).

New reports mention 13 additional companies signing similar MOUs. Following is an excerpt from a report in Economic Times.

The companies which signed MoUs on Friday include Action Ispat and Power Private Limited, Adhunik Metaliks Limited, Crackers India (Alloys) Limited, MGM Steels Limited, Posco India Limited, Rungta Mines Limited, SSL Energy Limited, CESC Limited, KVK Nilachal Power Limited, GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited, VISA Power Limited, Essar Steel Orissa Limited and Mahanadi Aban Power Co Limited.

Action Ispat will set up an ITC at Kirimira block of Jharsuguda district while Adhunik Metaliks will have its centre at Koida in Sundergarh district.

Similarly, Crackers India will establish its two ITCs at Kalampur in Kalahandi districts and Champua block in Keonjhar district.

MGM Steels has proposed to set up its ITC at Odapada in Dhenkanal district while Posco’s centre will come up at Erasama block of Jagatsinghpur district.

The Rungta Mines ITC will be set up at Dhenkanala, SSL ITC at Kholikote in Ganjam district, CESC ITC at Dampara in Cuttack district, KVK Nilachal ITC at Krushnaprasad in Puri district, GMR Kamalanga ITC at Bheden in Bargarh district, VISA Power ITC at Bhapur in Nayagarh district and ESSAR Steel at Telkoi in Keonjhar district.

Mahanadi Aban Power Co Limited would set up two ITCs at Binika in Sonepur district and Banarpal in Angul district.

July 10th, 2010

IIMC to become a university and offer degree courses and have 4 more branches; Odisha should pursue upgrading of the branch in Dhenkanal

Following is an excerpt from a report in India Today.

… The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) is all set to become a full-fledged university and will offer degree courses from next year.

Diploma students seeking admission in the current session are likely to have the option to continue the two-year post-graduate courses from next year. Interviews for the one-year courses will begin on Monday.

… The IIMC will offer two new two-year post-graduate diploma courses in development journalism, and corporate communication and media management.

The course material for turning the existing one-year diploma courses such as English journalism, advertising and electronic journalism into a two- year course has also been prepared.

To make the two-year advanced post-graduate diploma courses equivalent to an MA degree, the information and broadcasting ministry wrote to the HRD ministry.

… This will enable students to go into research while filling the gap of getting trained manpower in academics, teaching and the media industry.

Four new regional centres are also coming up in J&K, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Kerala. IIMC also has a centre at Dhenkanal in Orissa.

This would mean that the current combined student strength of 372 at Delhi and Dhenkanal would go up to 935 in the next few years with the addition of 200 students at the four new centres.

Soni asked the officials to not repeat the same courses in all IIMC branches. "For example, proposed IIMC Mizoram can have a course on animation, instead of repeating courses offered in Delhi," she said.

Adding graduate courses would cost the IIMC over Rs 45 crore. The minister asked officials to go liberal with funding to bring the institutions on a par with world class universities.

The Odisha government should pursue upgradation of IIMC Dehenkanal and make sure that it is not inferior to the new ones that are being made. In particular it should offer additional land and together with IIMC Dhenkanal officials make a plan of expansion and pursue it with the central minister of I & B Ms. Ambika Soni.

June 21st, 2010