Orissa government’s delay in responding may cost Orissa a world class central university

Update: A report in Samaja and Pioneer are given below.

Following is tathya.in’s take on it.

Orissa is yet to send the proposal for setting up a World Class University (WCU) in the state.

Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) has written to State Government to send a Detailed Proposal for a WCU in Orissa.

MHRD wrote the letter sequel to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s historic initiative on higher education includes 14 world class central universities each with an approximate initial budget of Rs. 1000 crores.

Besides traditional disciplines, these universities are supposed to have a medical school, an engineering school, a business school and a law school.

Currently India does not have any such world class university, and the central government, serious about the "world class" label wants these universities in locations that will create synergies.

Various news items have mentioned proximity to research labs such as CSIR labs as one of the qualifying locational attributes.

Orissa, at 6.1 per cent is at the bottom of the higher education enrollment among all major states, and needs to cover the biggest gap to make it to the 11th plan target of 15 per cent.

Moreover, Orissa is the 9th largest state of the country in terms of area and 11th largest in terms of population.

It also does not have any existing central universities.

Thus one would expect that Orissa would be in the front of the line making its case for one of these world class universities.

Unfortunately that is not the case.

Even after receiving communication from MHRD on this count Orissa has not yet responded, admited a senior official.

It would be a shame if Orissa loses out on this because of not making a proper and timely case, lamented an educationist.

Insiders say that the BJD-BJP Government is doing this deliberately so that when Orissa does not get one of these world class universities, than the government will again accuse the UPA Government of neglecting the state.

It is true that in recent past the UPA Government has created havoc by taking away a previously announced IIT from Orissa.

But in this particular case, the PM himself has stated categorically that there will be a competition between states in making decisions regarding the locations of the world class universities.

So if Orissa does not even send a timely proposal how can we blame the UPA government for Orissa not being given one of the WCU.

Chandrasekhar Sahu, Minister of State, Rural Development has written to MHRD about Orissa getting one of the WCU.

But one wonders if this will turn out like the NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) case.

Mr. Sahu was promised consideration for a NIFT by the Union Textiles Minister Sankar Sinh Vaghela, but the whole state was embarrassed in the Parliament when it was stated in a reply that Orissa government has never submitted a request for a NIFT.

In case of NIFT, Bihar took the lead in sending a proposal and snatched it from Orissa.

If Orissa loses out in getting one of the 14 world class university because of the current government’s laziness or because of its devious strategy to win elections at the cost of harming Orissa so that it can blame the Center, the people of Orissa will never forgive this Government, feel educationists.

2 comments December 28th, 2007

Orissa in slumber and may miss taking advantage of the 11th plan opportunities in higher education: Tathya.in

Action Item: Readers concerned about this may write to the CM at cmo@ori.nic.in to take immediate action and copy to one of the journalists in Orissa (perhaps Braja babu of Tathya.in at brajakmishra@gmail.com)

Following is from http://tathya.in/story.asp?sno=1455.

Orissa this time also is all set to miss the bus for Higher Education.

While the Higher Education Program for the Eleventh Five Year Plan is being final touches, Orissa is in deep slumber. 

And who will be able to wake up a sleeping state, which is at the lowest ebb of the investment plan of the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), asks educationists.

The Eleventh Plan is historical because investment in HRD sector will receive a big jump.

Just follow these numbers:

Currently there are 7 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) s that was made over 60 years; there will 8 more during the 11th Plan.

There are 23 central universities made over 60 years; 30 more will be added during the Plan.

There are no world class universities in India and planners have decided to go for 14.

There are 6 Indian Institute of Management (IIM) s that was made over 60 years; there is a plan to establish 7 more.

There is a plan to set up Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH).

Currently there is a single National Institute of Design that was made in 60 years since Independence; there is a plan to make 4 more during the Plan.

The 11th Plan’s stated goal is to take the higher education enrolment to 15 per cent.

Orissa’s higher education enrolment is at the bottom 6.1 per cent.

So Orissa must be working very hard to take advantage of the 11th plan.

Lo behold ! No home work in sight and this time also the state is going to loose heavily, feel the educationists.

Chitta Baral, Professor in Arizona State University is a worried person.

And Prof. Baral has every reason to worry.

We need a world class university and not a single soul has raised his voice for the same in the Government, lamented Prof.Baral.

This type of institution will have a budget of Rs.1000 crore. 

It  would be again a pity, if the state is going to lose the same as there is  opportunity to make a strong case.

It has the Ravenshaw University which without any affiliate colleges, matches the expected model of a world class university.

But will the State Government make such a case, asks Prof.Baral.

While Orissa is haunted by deaths due to cholera, it will be an appropriate place for setting up an Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH)

Till date the State has made no efforts to get one of the proposed 5-7 IIPHs in Orissa.

So far Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) s are concerned Orissa has not done much beyond the Chief Minister sending a couple of half-baked and impolite letters to the Prime Minister.

On the other hand, many other states have sent more detailed proposals.

Take the case of KBK Central University, in the past Orissa has made a case regarding a Central University in KBK.

However, it has not followed up on it recently.

Is not it time the State Government to follow up on this and makes a case, by pointing to the central universities in the North East, asks he.

It is not too late for many of the above; otherwise Orissa will get the pea nuts and predictably complain about Central apathy against the state.

3 comments December 18th, 2007

Kerala leads in computer connectivity to schools

Following is an excerpt from a news report in Hindustan Times.

Kerala’s Education Minister M.A. Baby Sunday inaugurated the first phase of Internet broadband connections to 1,200 schools in the state.

The initiative is part of the IT@School project launched by the state government in 2003 for imparting IT education to high school children across the state.

“All the 2,800 high schools in Kerala will be connected through broadband Internet by June as part of the project,” the minister said while inaugurating the first phase from the State Secretariat.

“We are planning to extend the services to upper primary schools (between 5th-7th classes) as well. In the first phase, we will start with 38 schools in this academic secession,” said Baby.

The project is implemented in collaboration with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), which has endeavoured to give special tariff rates for the 2800 schools in the state.

“The security deposit, modem rental and installation charges has been waived. Each school has also been offered a nominal rate Rs. 5000 per year to avail the services,” said K.S. Sreenivasan, chief general manager of BSNL.

Currently, as part of the project, about 40,000 computers have been put into use at the high schools. More than 60,000 teachers have been trained in IT and nearly 1.6 million students have benefited.

December 11th, 2007

Bangalore and CNR beg for a Harvard/Stanford type university; Many in Orissa do not quite realize the potential of Vedanta University

In a recent statement to Outlook  (Thanks to Abi for the pointer) Prof. CNR Rao, Chairperson of SAC-PM and responsible for for many good things in Bangalore (including the recent Indian Institute of Nanotechnology), is seemingly critical of the IT industry but what really comes out of the article is that he wants the IT biggies in Banaglore to set up a Harvard/Stanford type private university in Bangalore. Perhaps he has tried to convince them of this earlier, and this public posturing is a last ditch effort in that direction. Following is an excerpt from that article.

IT people have a responsibility that they are yet to fulfil. If they’re making so much money, why shouldn’t they create an outstanding private university equivalent to Stanford or Harvard? Had they done something like that they would have compensated for the other problems they have created. If IT people are making money, what do I get out of it, unless I am employed in Infosys with Narayana Murthy? The trouble is, we have given them a lot, but have got nothing in return.

In this context, it is interesting that the people of Orissa do not quite realize the value of the proposed Vedanta University, whose stated goal is to be a Stanford/Harvard type university and plus it seems to have a sound financial plan behind it that includes a $1 billion pledge by Mr. Anil Agarwal.  Because of the roadblock created by some in Orissa, the Vedanta University plan has not moved as fast as  they wanted it.  If such road blocks and delays continue, and other such plans come up in other parts of India, Vedanta University, and Orissa will lose the first movers’ advantage.

Orissa has a golden opportunity with Vedanta University; I hope they do not mess it up.

December 9th, 2007

Update on BESU becoming an IIEST

Following is an excerpt from a report in the Statesman.

The Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu), being renamed as Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST),Shibpur, would enrol students who qualify the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE), an all India entrance examination, only.

Among the total enrolled students, 50 per cent would be admitted from the domicile category of AIEEE and the rest will be admitted from the non-domicile category. The Centre will send a letter detailing the admission procedure and the administrative set up to the state government next week. Once the letter reaches the higher education department, Besu would start taking in candidates.

The mode of governance that Besu followed by Besu would be in accordance with the recommendations laid down by the Anandkrishnan Committee. The board of governors will be the highest body in IIEST. It will be constituted by the Centre and will have some officials from the state. The number of state representatives in this body would be mentioned in the Centre’s letter. No Bill would be introduced in the Winter session of the Parliament to upgrade Besu to IIEST. 

As Besu is the first institute to be upgraded to IIEST, Centre would not enact a separate IIEST Act. Instead the amendments would be included in the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Act as two separate schedules. Later on when more institutes acquire the IIEST status, a separate IIEST Act would be formulated”, said Prof BN Datta, dean, sponsored research, Besu. 

On the other hand, Jadavpur University, that had come out of the fold of the proposed IIESTs, is yet to hear anything from the Centre in regard to its letter urging to confer the status of Institute of National Eminence on JU.

9 comments December 8th, 2007

Indian Institute of Nanosciences at Bangalore, Mohali and Kolkata

Update: Tathya.in has an article on this vis-a-vis neglect of Orissa.

Following is an excerpt from a report in http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=3591.php.

Union government has identified Bangalore among the three cities in the country for the promotion and development of Nanotechnology under the Union government grant of Rs 1,000 crore (approx. $225 million). The other two cities are Kolkatta and Mohali. As part of the nanotechnology research and development efforts, the Centre has called upon to set up the Indian Institute of Nano Sciences (IINS) at the three locations. Karnataka has already been granted the Rs 100 crore from the Centre for the commencement of the project and the State government has provided the possession certificate of the 14 acres of land to construct the IINS in Bangalore. The Institute will primarily focus on advanced scientific research. The other two cities will also have to set up similar institutes.

December 7th, 2007

Lalu asks IIT, IIM and Central University for Bihar

Following is an excerpt on this from a report in Bihar Times.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav made a number of demands for his home state, Bihar, at the meeting of the Full Planning Commission on Thursday called to approve the 11th Five-Year Plan. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,

Lalu demanded setting up of an IIT and IIM in the state and at least one polytechnic institute in each district. Besides, he sought Central University status for the Patna University.

November 10th, 2007

Flying training institute to be established in Gondia, Maharashtra

Following is from the PIB release http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=32493.

LONG-TERM MEASURES TO MEET THE SHORTAGE OF PILOTS: CONTRACTING OUT OF MANAGEMENT OF INDIRA GANDHI RASHTRIYA URAN AKADEMI AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FLYING TRAINING INSTITUTE AT GONDIA, MAHARASHTRA

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for management contract agreement of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi with M/s. CAE Inc., Canada and also gave its approval for formation of a subsidiary company of Airports Authority of India for establishing a flying and aviation training institute at Gondia in Maharashtra as a Joint Venture Enterprise with M/s. CAE, Canada.

The management for taking of IGRUA would be taken over by M/s. CAE Inc., Canada for better management of the Akademi in a more professional manner in order to produce 100 pilots per year.

The subsidiary company of AAI will establish a flying and aviation training institute which will help in meeting the growing requirements of pilots and technical manpower relating to the aviation industry.

22 comments November 8th, 2007

Samaja interview with Dr. P. L. Nayak – Scientists are neglected in Orissa

Dr. P. L. Nayak is an expert in biodegradable polymers made out of agricultural feed-stock such as maize and is the Chairman of the board of directors of the company SPC  Botech in Hyderabad. He did a lot of his research on this topic during his days in Ravesnhaw College, Cuttack. Following is an interview of him in Samaja.

September 2nd, 2007

Institutes of Public health in Hyderabad and Gandhinagar

The following is from a PIB report.

The Government has decided to support the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in setting up world class Institutes of Public health in India through contribution of upto Rs. 65 crore as one-time grant to the initial Rs. 200 crore PHFI corpus. The representatives of the Government are also there in the Governing Board of PHFI. PHFI is an autonomous Public-Private partnership and besides Government of India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Deshpande Foundation, Amar Foundation and other high net worth corporates/individuals, both from within India and abroad, are contributing to the PHFI corpus fund.

PHFI is an initiative to bridge the gap between the requirement and availability of trained personnel in public health and to effectively promote public health management. It will not only train health professionals, but will also assist in strengthening the existing institutions in the public health sector, create a pool of excellent faculty, act as a think tank for the Government providing inputs for policy initiatives and set standards for public health education. The research programmes of PHFI would be geared to facilitate policy and programme development in public health through inter-disciplinary studies.

PHFI has decided to establish Institutes of Public health in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The institutes will be fully operation by 2009, although short and medium term education and training programmes are expected to start from year 2008 itself.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

5 comments August 31st, 2007

Proposal for six new NIPERs gets cabinet approval

Following is from a PIB release. (To go through this proposal the original NIPER bill was amended.)

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the following proposals:

i) Setting up of six National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) at Hyderabad (Andhra pradesh), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Hajipur (Bihar) Guwahati (Assam), Raibareilly (U.P.) and Kolkata (West Bengal).

ii) Commencing some courses at four locations of New NIPERs from the current academic session i.e. September, 2007 with the assistance of Mentor Institutes.

iii) Continuation of courses under the present arrangements from the plan budget for two years i.e. 2007-08 and 2008-09 and preparation and preparation and approval of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) by the Competent Authority.

iv) Appointment of a Consultant of repute to prepare the DPR for each NIPER wherever possible on the Public Private Partnership model.

v) Pending the constitution of board of Governors under the NIPER Act 1998, an Apex Steering Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (C&PC) to oversee the functioning of these NIPERs may be set up.

This decision will facilitate training of high caliber pharmaceutical experts and award of Masters degrees to cater to the demand of pharmaceuticals industry, academic institutes and the pharmacy profession.

My comments: In a few years, Orissa should try for a NIPER around Paradip which will become a mega petro-chemicals hub.

1 comment August 23rd, 2007

Worker’s national technical university in Hyderabad

Following is from a PIB.

 

The Committee constituted by this Ministry under the Chairmanship of Dr. G. Sanjeeva Reddy has since submitted its report in December, 2006. The report recommended establishment of a Workers Technical University for inter-alia training the students from workers family and those belonging to economically poor sections of the society particularly form rural areas to make them more relevant to the needs of today’s technology intensive and knowledge driven industrial society.

The Committee recommended the industry to contribute a small percentage of their gross profit ( ranging from 0.5% to 2%) as the education cess for the proposed university.

The Committee recommended that the jurisdiction of the proposed National Workers Technical University shall be the whole of the country, having the main campus at Hyderabad with regional centres at different major cities in the country. The Ministry has constituted a Core Committee to work out the details of establishment of the National Workers Technical University. The XIth plan has not been finalized.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari in a reply to a question by Shri Ravi Prakash Verma in Lok Sabha today.

My comments: Orissa should persue campus of such a university in Berhampur or Keonjhar.

August 21st, 2007

Ranking of K-12 schools in India

Education worldwide on-line has a ranking of schools. None of the schools in their list are from Orissa. In recent years some name brand schools have come to Orissa. This includes Loyola school and DPS Kalinga; both in Bhubaneswar. Performance wise DAV Chandrasekharpur in Bhubaneswar has been doing very well in the CBSE class X and XII exams, but not great in IIT entrance exams.

(Thanks to Piyush Patnaik for the pointer to the ranking.)

2 comments August 21st, 2007

Mentoring by IIM Lucknow students: Other marquee institutions should do the same

An Indian Express article mentions the surprising result of several IIM Lucknow students mentoring +2 students of a local college. I hope more such mentoring happens. Is anyone from XIM reading this?

August 18th, 2007

NIPM (National Institute of Intellectual Property Management) in Nagpur

The PIB mentions minister Kamal Nath laying its foundation. The details of the PIB is as follows:

Continue Reading 3 comments August 17th, 2007

Karnataka gets a positive response from the PM on a new IIT in Hassan

Following are excerpts from a Hindu news item on this.

Sources in the State Government told The Hindu that apart from the assurances on several agricultural and infrastructure sector programmes, Mr. Kumaraswamy also extracted a positive response from the Prime Minister on the establishm ent of an Indian Institute of Technology and a Central university in the State as part of a one-on-one discussion which he had with Dr. Manmohan Singh. The Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that the State Government would provide 1,200 acres of land in Hassan for the establishment of the IIT and the requisite land for starting a Central university at Gulbarga or any other part of the State.

(Thanks to Purna babu for the pointer.)

2 comments August 7th, 2007

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