Stepmotherly attitude of the central government and Orissa’s ability: Op-ed in Samaja
November 21st, 2007
Three HRD issues (AIIMS, IIT, KBK University) to be raised by the ruling coalition in the current assembly (from Dharitri)
November 19th, 2007
MM Joshi: Center neglecting Orissa
Following is an excerpt from a report in Pioneer.
BJP leader and former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence, Naveen Niwas, and had breakfast with him. Sources said that both leaders discussed many issues pertaining to the interests of the State’s coalition Government and the interests of the State. “Yes, we are good friends,” he later told reporters.
Addressing a Press conference, he said the Congress-led Governments at the Centre have constantly neglected Orissa’s interests.
During the NDA regime, the foundation stone of the AIIMS was laid. But no work has yet been taken up to give it a formal shape, he said.
Though the NDA gave its nod for establishment of an international standard educational institute like National Institute of Sciences in Bhubaneswar, the UPA shifted it to Kolkata,” he pointed out.
November 19th, 2007
Orissa’s share of central universities in the 11th plan: Samaja op-ed by Sahadeva Sahu
November 2nd, 2007
PM asks to freeze the location decisions on new central universities and elite institutions until the 11th plan is finalized
We mentioned this earlier in https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=746. Following is an excerpt from a PTI report in Hindu. (New Indian Express also reports on this.)
In an effort to ensure spread of higher education avenues in an even manner, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has advised the HRD Ministry not to decide on locations of proposed establishment of new central universities and other elite institutions in the country till a mechanism was evolved for the purpose.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has indicated that the Ministry should await the finalization of the XI Plan before deciding on locations for the new central Universities, IITs, IIMs, IIITs and IISERs, the PMO said in a recent communication to the HRD Ministry.
"He (the Prime Minister) has also desired that the Ministry put in abeyance all further locational decisions till a formal mechanism is evolved for this purpose," it said.
The communication from the PMO was in response to a letter of HRD Minister Arjun Singh had written last month to the Prime Minister regarding establishment of these institutions.
1 comment October 23rd, 2007
Arjun Singh at odds with the PM, Planning Commission and the Knowledge Commission?
Our earlier report https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=746 supports this to some extent. Following is from an article in merinews.com written by Ashok K. Jha.
This government, …, had constituted a knowledge commission under Sam Pitroda who, encouraged by Rajiv Gandhi, had set up Centre for Developments of Telematics and C-Dot in the early eighties, which proved a catalyst for the Telecommunication Revolution that we are witnessing today. Many prominent personalities are also the members of this commission. After months of brainstorming and research the commission recommended its suggestions to the government.But there are some politicians in our country who accord their personal ego and interests above country’s welfare and progress. Many analysts feel that there are some ministers in this government who embody that description.Human Resource Minister, Arjun Singh kept ignoring the recommendations of the commission for reasons best known to him only. But recently, the minister hesitatingly met the Knowledge Commission Chairman, Sam Pitroda for a few minutes and heard him out. It is speculated that the minister might have been asked to mend his ways and cooperate with the Commission.Arjun Singh was not impressed by the recommendatation of the commission and deliberately chose to ignore the suggestions of the commission until the Prime Minister himself took up the matter and declared the road map that his government intended to follow in accordance with the recommendations. Prime Minister had announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that very soon every state would have a central university and the number of premier engineering and management institutes would be increased. He also said that in order to impart technical training at the grassroot level, thousands of technical institutes would be opened and the private sector will also be encouraged to participate.But the fact is that there is a shortage of technical professionals and the situation will continue to look grim unless some drastic measures are implemented speedily. Manpower has become an asset for India and this will play a greater role in the future as the world population is ageing whereas the youth constitute greater percentage of India’s population.The world has become a global village now and if India is not able to match its pace with the rest of the world, then, very soon it will be another story of opportunity missed.Arjun Singh does not seem to care a bit and is not willing to act unless it results in some kind of a political dividend for him.It might sound amusing as he might himself not remember when he won any election last. In fact, in spite of being beaten in elections repeatedly, he became a minister only for his consistent loyalty to the Gandhi family. He should have realised his limitations and spent his energy in keeping his benefactors in good humour. Strangly, he became ambitious and started tinkering in everything like his predecessor, Murli Manohar Joshi used to do.Whatever developmental strides India is making now is due to its ‘knowledge workforce’ and to gain the much aspired momentum, our education system needs to be drastically changed. But what would be the result if the minister himself starts obstructing all such initiatives on the ground that any such move would not yield any political dividends for him? The Prime Minister should act firmly now otherwise there are many politicians who can’t foresee beyond personal interests. They must be made to realise and mend their follies in the larger interest of the public they are elected to serve.
Many people in Orissa have similar feelings about Arjun Singh for:
- Hijacking the idea of a tribal central university that was originally proposed by the Chief Minister of Orissa.(See https://www.orissalinks.com/?p=259 and www.orissalinks.com/)
- For changing the name of NIS to IISER and shifting it out of Orissa. (See http://iiser.blogspot.com) This was later corrected by the PM announcing the establishment of NISER through DAE.
- For taking away an announced for IIT in Orissa. (See http://iitorissa.org)
- For denying IIT Kharagpur’s proposal to set up a branch campus in Bhubaneswar, even after he had agree to it verbally when talking to Orissa’s CM. (See http://iitorissa.org)
1 comment October 20th, 2007
Finally the CM writes to the PM again on IIT
Following is an excerpt from a report in Statesman.
Chief Minister Mr Naveen Patnaik today pressed his demand for having an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and a Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in the state by writing a letter to the Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Patnaik emphasised on the establishment of high-quality technical and management institutes in order to boost the ongoing rapid industrial development of taking place in Orissa.
The chief minister informed that huge investments in steel, aluminum and the power sectors have resulted in rapid growth in the industrial scenario of the state. Similarly, huge employment possibility has been generated in the automobile, petrochemicals and the IT sector.
All these require the development of human resources in the state and this prompted the state government to plan for various technical and vocational institutes with the help of private participation, Mr Patnaik added.
As the Centre has decided to set up eight IITs, five IISERs, 20 IIITs and 30 central universities, the long-pending demands for elite national educational institutes in the state should be addressed, Mr Patnaik maintained in his letter.
It may be noted that the civil society had virtually launched a movement demanding establishment of an IIT in Orissa.
Similar reports also appear in Hindu, Pioneer, New Indian Express, Kalinga Times, etc. Following is Samaja’s take on it.
1 comment October 17th, 2007
MHRD PIB: ACCESS, EQUITY AND QUALITY ARE FOCUS OF NEW INITIATATIVES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Update: One thing new in this is the proposal to establish 10 new NITs.
From http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=31735.
Access, Equity and Quality are focus of new initiatives in Higher Education as per the meeting of the Consultative Committee relating to the Ministry of Human Resource Development which took place earlier today. The meeting chaired by Shri Arjun Singh, Minister for HRD, discussed new initiatives for the 11th Plan in the higher education sector. The Minister for HRD briefed the members on the proposals from the Ministry that had been discussed in the Full Meeting of the Planning Commission. Shri Singh mentioned that the proposed initiatives would not be ready for implementation till the formal approvals of the Planning Commission and the National Development Council (NDC). Members were also informed that while the 10th Plan outlay for higher education, including technical education was approximately Rs.9500 crores, the Ministry was hopeful of getting an outlay several times higher for its Central Plan proposals.
The 11th Plan objectives are aimed at increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio(GER) (access rate) in higher education from the present 10% to 15% by 2012, while ensuring improvement in quality and enhancement of equity. Acknowledging that States’ share in Plan outlay being roughly four times the Central plan outlay, co-opting States to contribute substantially would be critical to the achievement of the Plan objectives. The Ministry’s proposal for the 11th Plan accordingly include incentives to States to allocate higher resources to colleges and universities, partial assistance to setting up of colleges of excellence in as many as 370 districts with low GER and less than four colleges per one lakh of population, special assistance for institutions in 88 minority concentration districts, substantially higher allocation for establishing women’s hostels in order to rectify gender bias in enrolment, removal of regional imbalances through the establishment of 30 new central universities – sixteen of which would be in States which have no Central University at present.
Members were informed that the Central Government has already approached the State Governments to suggest alternative locations in regard to the new Central Universities and the Ministry in consultation with the Planning Commission and the UGC was in the process of working out the concept of world ‘class universities’. The proposals include higher level of assistance to State universities and colleges and also assistance from the UGC to the nearly 150 State universities and 6000 colleges which are not being assisted at present, in order to plug the quality gaps identified by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The Committee was also apprised of other new institutions proposed to be created such as the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University for which a Bill has already been introduced in Parliament, the proposed Workers’ Technical University, introduction of Medical & Engineering Faculties in all Central Universities, the proposed Inter-University Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education, the proposed new Indian Institutes of Technology, the proposed new Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research and Research, Schools of Planning & Architecture, etc..
New initiatives in Technical Education include expansion and upgradation of 200 State Technical Institutions selected on the basis of appropriate criteria; expansion of centrally funded institutions (IITs, IIMs, NIITs, IIITs and NITTTRs (as per Oversight Committee recommendations for inclusion, expansion and excellence); strengthening departments/institutes of management and business administration in university system in view of increased demand for MBAs and limitations of IIMs to expand capacity and also affordability and setting up of new institutions in the XIth Plan (Eight IITs, Seven IIMs, Five IISERs, Two SPAs, 10 NITs, 20 IIITs, and 50 Centres for Training and Research in frontier areas) and also consider the feasibility of increasing the capacities of the existing IITs and IIMs by 200% or so.
Polytechnic education aims to create a pool of skilled manpower to support shop floor and field operations. It is proposed to give a big boost to Polytechnics whose present intake capacity is only about 2.5 lakhs as against 6 lakhs for degree level engineering courses. Ideally, there should be an intake capacity of over 20 lakhs in Diploma courses, even on a conservative basis, for 6 lakh Engineers. Therefore, subject to availability of funds, the Ministry is proposing that the XI Plan must aim to start at least about 1000 new Polytechnics (300 by State Governments, 300 in PPP mode and 400 by Private sector) which will result in the addition of about 2 lakh seats.
Regarding Open and Distance Learning, the Committee was informed that under the National Education Mission Government intends through ICT, to interconnect through Broad Band, all Institutions of national importance/excellence, over 375 universities and about 18600 colleges besides providing them specially generated e-learning material. For example, the e-content for over 150 courses prepared by National Project for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) through the IITs and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, is already available to all the Institutions free of cost.
While complimenting the Government for these initiatives, members expressed the view that allocation of 6% of the GDP for the education sector was essential to implement these initiatives for which the State Governments would also have to be appropriately encouraged. Several innovative suggestions were also given by members; including the need to popularize ‘earn while you learn schemes,’ removal of disparity in quality between colleges in urban and rural areas, the need for the UGC to review its system of recognition for financial assistance so that more colleges could become eligible, optimum utilization of physical infrastructure through encouragement to evening colleges and working in shifts so as to increase the capacity of intake, need for improving teaching methodology in undergraduate courses in Arts and Sciences through use of multimedia and new pedagogical tools, etc.
Shri Chinta Mohan, Shri Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, Shri Rajendrasinh G. Rana, Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiria, Km. Bhavana P. Gawali, Shri Haribhau Jawale and Shri Babulal Marandi from Lok Sabha and Shri Raashid Alvi, Prof. P.J. Kurien, Ms. Kanimozhi, Shri Krishna Lal Balmiki and Dr. Ram Prakash from Rajya Sabha attended the meeting.
1 comment October 8th, 2007
IIIT proposal of Orissa in 1997
I came across the IIIT proposal that Orissa had prepared in 1997. Here it is (7MB). Since that proposal, its been 10 years and finally we will have the IIIT. During these 10 years many IIITs were established in other states: Gwalior (1997), Hyderabad (1998), Allahabad (1999), Bangalore (1999), Kolkata (2000), Pune, Kerala, Jabalpur and Amethi (Campus of Allahbad).
July 27th, 2007
Meeting in support of KBK Central University called in Malkangiri.
Odisha.com reports on this. Pioneer also reports on this and also on Agami Orissa’s plan for a meeting in Koraput. Following are some excerpts.
A meeting to chalk out the future course of action on demand of a KBK Central University was held at Malkanagiri. Local MLA Nimain Sarkar was the convener at the meeting, … Over 100 persons of the district, including senior citizens, intellectuals, educationists, journalists and representatives of civil society organisations attended the meeting.
A committee, KBK Bikas Parishad, was formed after the meeting with an aim to look into the various developmental aspects of the most neglected undivided KBK districts. RK Patra was nominated as the convener of the committee while Durga Prasad Tripathy was chosen as the president.
Ratnakar Dash was nominated as the general secretary of the committee. Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Prahallad Dora and MLA Nimain Sarkar were chosen as the advisers of the committee.The committee alleged that the Central Government cheated the people of tribal KBK districts on many occasions. While it was decided to set up a KBK Central University at Koraput, it is now mysteriously shifted to another State by the order of the Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, the members of the committee alleged. Reiterating the demand for KBK Central University, the members warned of an intense mass movement throughout the State. However, the foundation of the movement will be laid on July 29 at Koraput meeting, which is going to be organised by Agami Orissa.
July 23rd, 2007
Lalit Patnaik’s message on Agamee odisha meeting about KBK University
Dear Friends,
To day, a meeting was convened by Agamee Odisha in Jaydev Bhawan about “KBK University and related railways and other Development of KBK Districts. The Dias was empty of any chair except the banner for KBK University. People went from the assembly spoke and came back. A very new concept by our President.
The meeting was opened by the address of our President Shree DK Ray, Ex Chairman OERC and Income Tax Commissioner, who welcomed one and all with warm hands. Dr Kasturi Mohapatra, VP of National Child Health Care Foundation, deliberated about Mission & Vision of Agamee Odisha.
Continue Reading July 11th, 2007
Seven new IIMs, higher salary for professors etc.
Hindustan Times reports on further development on the HRD front with respect to the 11th plan. Following are some excerpts.
… Planning Commission recommending higher remuneration for faculty and mandatory curricula revision every three years.
The commission said the government should look at alternate ways to improve the wages of professors and to tap the large pool of teachers of Indian origin. "The faculty can get a share of the money earned from research projects for the corporate world. Even research students can earn from these," a government official said.
The commission also proposed that some faculty be recruited on salaries higher than government pay scales, on contract basis for five years with no assurance of automatic renewal. The contract system would be mostly for NRIs with special research funding support. Tenured appointments should also be available at a certain stage for professors achieving objectively set academic standards, Planning Commission vice-chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia said in a presentation to the PM. …
The government aims to bring two per cent students under the scholarship fold and double the number of junior research fellowships. This is aimed at improving research quality. It is also working on information communication technology for all 367 universities and on connecting 18,000 colleges through the National Knowledge Network, as recommended by the National Knowledge Commission, the commission said.
The commission also said it had given in-principle approval to the setting up of three new IITs, seven new IIMs, 20 National Institutes of Technology, five Indian Institutes of Science Education Research, 20 IIITs, two Schools of Planning and Architecture.
Lets elaborate a bit on the last sentence.
- The three IIT locations are announced as Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
- Among the seven new IIMs, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Shillong (Meghalaya) are three of the locations. The remaining four locations are as yet unrevealed. (This calculation probably does not take into account the recent news that IIM Lucknow is establishing a campus in NOIDA, in the New Delhi metropolitan area. Also, note that IIM Bangalore is making good progress towards establishing a campus in Singapore.)
- The 20 NITs are existing ones.
- The five IISERs are in Kolkata, Pune, Mohali (Punjab), Kerala and Bhopal.
- The 20 IIITs will be one in each of the major states.
- The two SPAs are announced to be in Bhopal and Vijaywada.
July 7th, 2007
Standing up for the backward areas of Orissa and India
India can not progress much if it leaves behind big parts of its population and areas; same is true for Orissa. Unfortunately the most backward areas of India also happen to be in Orissa. We must make sure that these areas are given adequate attention by all governments.
1. Some statistical points on KBK, the most backward districts in Orissa as well as India; on Orissa and on MHRD spending in Orissa.
(a) Population below the poverty line in southern Orissa (of which KBK is a part) is reported to be 89.17% of the people according to the 1999-2000 NSS data and 72% of the families according to the 1997 census.
(b) The literacy rates in the KBK districts are abysmally low. Malkangiri 31.26%, Nabarangpur 34.26%, Rayagada 35.61%, Koraput 36.2%, Nuapada 42.29%, Kalahandi 46.2%, Balangir 54.93%, Sonepur 64.07%. Two adjacent districts also have low literacy: Gajapati 41.73% and Kandhamala 52.95%. The state average is 63.1%.
(c) The tribal population percentage of the KBK districts are as follows: Malkangiri 58.36% (+19.96% SC), Rayagada 56.04% (+14.28% SC), Nabarangpur 55.27% (+15.09% SC), Koraput 50.67% (+13.41% SC), Nuapada 35.95% (+13.09% SC), Kalahandi 28.88% (+17.01% SC), Sonepur 22.11% (+9.5% SC), Balangir 22.06% (+15.39% SC). Two adjacent districts also have high tribal population. They are Kandhamala 51.51% (+18.21% SC) and Gajapati 47.88% (+8.77% SC)
(d) KBK needs sons of the soil, (highly) educated in the soil teachers, doctors, engineers, officers etc. to help in bringing KBK to the main stream of Orissa and India. With a high tribal population, it is important that they have higher education opportunities right where they live as often they do not venture out to Delhi, Hyderabad, Allahabad or Benaras to take advantage of the ST seats in the high quality central universities there and the ones that venture out do not usually return home. In this regard one must note that in the US a major percentage of Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans who have a higher education degree have it from colleges and universities (such as HBCUs — Historically Black Colleges and Universities) near their home rather than in far flung universities.
(e) Central government spending in fully centrally funded higher education institutions in Orissa is towards the bottom among all states in India. A rough calculation in http://www.baral.us/hrd-nh.htm showed that while the central government spent (in 2005-06) per person Rs 4.07 on fully-funded-by-center HRD institution in Orissa, it spent Rs 177.12 in Delhi, Rs 105.42 in Uttaranchal, Rs 105 in Arunachal Pradesh, Rs 77.7 in Assam, Rs 33.78 in Himachal Pradesh, Rs 28.10 in West Bengal, Rs 25.12 in Karnataka, Rs 17.79 in Tamil Nadu, Rs 17.09 in Maharastra, Rs 17.08 in UP, Rs 16.2 in Jharkhand, Rs 16.05 in Andhra, Rs 14.5 in J & K, Rs 13.38 in Punjab, Rs 8.52 in Haryana, Rs 7.9 in Kerala, Rs 7.39 in Chhattisgarh, Rs 7.2 in MP, Rs 4.87 in Gujurat, Rs 2.59 in Rajasthan, and Rs 1.87 in Bihar. Now that an IIT and IIM has been announced for Bihar and an IIT has been announced for Rajasthan, Orissa will be at the bottom.
(f) As per the NSSO study of 2004-2005 Orissa is at the bottom of most higher education parameters. For example, Table 3.14.1 shows that in the 15-19 age group 29% people in Orissa are attending school/college and in the 20-24 age group this number for Orissa is 6.1%. (Both numbers are lowest among all but the small states/UTs of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep.) For the Scheduled Tribe population
these numbers are 17.1% for the 15-19 age group and 4.1% for the 20-24 age group.
2. Orissa government and people have made sincere efforts towards establishing a KBK central university.
(a) Oct 24 2005: The CM meets the HRD minister Mr. Arjun Singh and proposes the idea of a KBK Central University and Mr. Singh appreciates the idea. Following is an excerpt of a press release that discusses it.
- … In addition to this, Shri Patnaik also requested for establishment of a Central University for the KBK Region, which is one of the most backward regions in the country. He pointed out that there was a heavy concentration of the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste population in this region, which has a literacy rate below 50%. Shri Patnaik stated that setting up a Central University in the KBK region would go a long way in encouraging higher education among tribal population. He added that the university could also set up specialized centres for tribal development related studies, as tribal development was one of the biggest challenges facing the country today. Shri. Arjun Singh appreciated the rationale of having a Central University in the KBK region and sought a formal proposal in this regard from the State Government. He assured that this would receive high priority whenever the Central Government considers setting up of new central universities
(b) Since then the Orissa government and the representatives of Orissa have brought up this issue many many times.
- The MPs brought it up in Rajya Sabha on December 19 2005. (See page 2 right column)
- See http://kbkcentral.blogspot.com/ for the numerous times this have been brought up by the CM, by other ministers from Orissa, etc.
(c) A detailed proposal was sent by the Orissa government as well as by us.
(d) Here is our proposal. (word, pdf) This document has lots of detailed statistics in case you may want to use some of it in your letter.
(e) Hundred of us also sent letters about it to the PM, planning commission, etc. (word) This letter also has lots of detailed statistics in case you may want to use some of it in your letter.
3. A shock to Orissa:
(a) The Hindu first reported on the plan for the tribal university in Madhya Pradesh. Following is an excerpt from it. One may compare this excerpt with the Orissa government press release on Oct 24 2005 and it becomes clear that the idea proposed by our CM was stolen.
- … The Indira Gandhi National Tribal University will encourage studies on tribal art, culture and traditions, forests and natural resources. Tribal students will be given priority in admission. … The D. Swaminadhan Committee, set up by the University Grants Commission, recommended the setting up of a varsity exclusively for promoting tribal culture and providing tribals access to higher education.
(b) The recent PIB says the following:
The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for establishment of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh with Central Government funding. It also approved introduction of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill, 2007 in the Parliament.
(c) http://www.ranchiexpress.com
There is no mention of KBK Central University above; nor about branches of IGNTU in Orissa. This came as a shock to people of Orissa.
4. Soothing words from the PM and the central minister from Orissa, Mr. Chandrasekhar Sahu
(a) In http://pib.nic.in/release
Today, I am happy to announce that we intend to establish 30 new Central Universities across the country. The work on the modalities for setting these up has begun and the Ministry of Human resource Development, the University Grants Commission and the Planning Commission are working to operationalize this in the next 2-3 months.
(b) Business Standard reported central minister Chandrasekhar Sahu saying:
While the first Central University is likely to be set up in Koraput,
5. In light of the above we have the following five point demand:
I. The central university in Koraput should be a multi-campus one with campuses in all the major towns in KBK+ districts. I.e., the eight KBK districts and the adjacent Gajapati and Kandhamal districts. This university should be more like the universities in the north east in that it must have special quotas for tribals and KBK+ residents.
II. The PM said there will be 30 new central universities. Since there are already about 20 central universities and Orissa has none; besides the
central university in Koraput, one of the other universities in Orissa, from a different part of Orissa, must be upgraded to central university status.
III. Branches of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University must be made in the north western districts with high tribal population, in particular
Mayurbhanj (tribal percentage 57.87%, literacy 52.43%), Sundergarh (50.74%, 65.22%), and Keonjhar (44.52%, 59.75%); and possibly in Sambalpur (35.08% , literacy 67.01%), Deogarh (33.31%, literacy 60.78%), and Jharsuguda (31.88% , literacy 71.47%).
IV. A greenfield IIT must be established in an appropriate location in Orissa to serve the backward parts of Orissa as well as to be close enough to existing infrastructure so as to be a viable world class institution.
V. Connectivity to KBK must be upgraded with (a) fasttrack implementation of the Vijaywada-Ranchi highway and (b) Finishing three important rail projects in KBK: Khurda Rd – Balangir; Naupada-Gunupur-Therubali; and LanjigarhRd-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh-Nabrangpur-Jeypore-Malkangiri with the last exetended to Bhadrachalam Rd thus creating an alternate shorter Ranchi-Hyderabad rail connection passing through the tribal and backward areas.
2 comments July 6th, 2007
Agami Odisha plans a convention on the KBK Central University issue on July 8th
Agami Odisha plans a convention on the KBK Central University issue on July 8th at the Jayadev Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Following is an appeal by its president:
We appeal to all to attend the Convention in Jayadev Bhavan on 8th July for displaying our commitment , mobilising support and for chalking out a road map for an effective democratic movement spread over KBK region, other district towns in the state and to rest not till we obtain positive response from the central and the state government to our demand.
A contact address the appeal provides is: Shri Dilip on mobile 9861240228.
July 4th, 2007
Rejoinder to Mr. Jairam Ramesh’s comments in Bhubaneswar on the IIT Orissa issue
Dear Mr. Ramesh:
I read about your visit to Bhubaneswar and some news reports and quotes of yours in Statesman. (See article below.)
1. One of them says:
“I do not want to score political points but what if I ask what were these people doing in all the six years that the NDA was in power. The IIT could have come up in six years time , what were you (the BJD) doing when all that you needed was to take up the file to Mr Vajpayee and he would have signed it,” shot back Mr Ramesh.
2. Another paragraph of that report says:
Repeatedly emphasising that he was one with the demand of the state for institutes of higher education, Mr Ramesh said at the same time, one should realise that an IIT will solve the problem of unemployment. Has Kanpur IIT contributed in any way to Kanpur? In fact, IITs have contributed more to the US economy than Indian economy, he remarked.
===
Mr. Ramesh: I don’t know if your intent was to score political points or if this is your thinking. You are quoted as saying that “you do not want to score political points”, so these must be your real views.
(1′) Your comment (1) implies that a state can get an IIT (or similar institute) only when its coalition is in power in Delhi. Do you really mean that? So is the UPA government in Delhi only for states with UPA friendly governments and the rest should go to hell in regards to higher education institutions? Not only that you seem to be implying that it is not right (timing) for Orissa to ask for an IIT now because the ruling party of the state is not aligned with the center.
Continue Reading June 21st, 2007