Below is a collage of the logos of national level institutes and universities of Odisha. (IIIT is trying to get there.) Note that except NIT Rourkela, which started as an REC in 1961 and became NIT in 2002, the rest have been established in the last 5 years:
- IIIT and NISER in 2007,
- IIT in 2008, NLUO in 2008-9,
- CUO Koraput in 2009, and
- AIIMS in 2012.
See https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/6243 for a timeline of the establishment of various higher educational institutions of Odisha.
See our collection of logos of Odisha higher education institutions and universities in facebook at here and here.
September 2nd, 2012
The 30.5 lakh sq feet is equivalent to 2,83,355.4066 sq meters and is equivalent to 70.0158 acres. As a comparison:
November 20th, 2011
Following is from a report in Telegraph by Priya Abarham.
The University Grant Commission (UGC) has sanctioned three new schools under the Central University of Orissa in Koraput.
These include School of Development Studies, School of Basic Sciences and Information Sciences and School of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources.
Following the sanction, three new courses have been started under each school from this academic year and admissions to these courses have begun.
The university has launched MSc in biodiversity and conservation of natural resources under School of Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources in collaboration with the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai.
Similarly, MA in economics has been launched under School of Development Studies and a five-year integrated course in mathematics has been launched under School of Basic Sciences and Information Sciences.
…Plans are afoot to start School of Health Sciences next year. “In response to a letter from the UGC, a detailed project report for the proposed medical college and hospital has already been submitted,” she said.
Three other MoUs have been signed with Jamia Hamdard University for collaborative programmes in nursing and community health, Narayan Hrudayalaya for courses in vocational development programmes in medical industry specific areas, and Public Health Foundation of India for collaboration in teaching and research for partnership under School of Health Sciences. The varsity is in also talks with the district hospital of Koraput for collaborative programmes in health sciences and allied programmes in the state.
Prior to this year the university had the following schools and courses.
| 1. School of Languages |
a) English (30 seats)
b) Oriya (30 seats) |
| 2. School of Social Sciences |
a) Anthropology & Tribal Studies (30 seats)
b) Sociology (30 seats)
c) Journalism and Mass Communication (30 seats) |
I appreciate the innovative strategy of the VC of getting help from reputed outside organizations for the new schools and new programs. Without that a young university in a backward and hinterland district and with a small faculty would not be able to provide quality education in the initial years.
If the university gets approval for a medical college next year then that would be a great achievement for the VC. We wish her and the university the best in that effort.
October 25th, 2011
The newsletter is at http://www.centraluniversityorissa.ac.in/Downloads/Newsletter_Feb.%202011.pdf.
Page 9: From the Vice-Chancellor’s statement:
From the forthcoming academic session the University proposes to introduce five new subjects under New Schools …
As for the progress of our physical infrastructure of the main campus, the construction of the Boundary Wall is almost through and the construction of buildings in the first phase, the Girls’ Hostel, the Boys’ Hostel, the Guest House and the Academic Block I are likely to start towards the end of March.
… As a Founding Vice-Chancellor my vision of this composite University has two well-defined thrust areas in terms of priorities: One is healthcare and subsequently the introduction / dissemination of medical education and the other is related to the development and welfare of the tribal community.
Page 12: Development of Campus (progress of the Boundary Wall)
The main campus of our University is coming up at Sunabeda. The construction of boundary wall undertaken by CPWD is in progress. Out of actual 9.3 kms of boundary wall about 8.6 kms work is completed. The pillar excavation, raising columns on rocky terrains of the boundary is almost over. The brickwork and plastering of the Boundary Wall is going on in full swing.
The master plan has also been approved by the University Building Committee. Recently the Chief Engineer of CPWD has visited our main campus in Koraput and inspected the progress of construction work.
Page 24: The List of forthcoming Centres and Schools of the Central University of Orissa duly approved by the Academic Council and the Executive Council
The Academic Council and the Executive Council of CUO have approved the establishment of the following new Schools and Centres:
Page 31: Centre for Tribal Welfare and Community Development
Extreme poverty has its own typical features and adverse impacts on any society. Migration in search of survival for livelihoods is gradually becoming a common phenomenon in the KBK region as well as in the other parts of the country. For the survival of local people, the traditional skill based occupations are gradually becoming uneconomic options. On the other hand the same traditional skills have a flourishing market value in neighbouring states. This creates situations for mass migration, often with the family, in search of a livelihood even under stressful conditions. In the recent trend of economic development, the traditional skill based occupations have also became largely resource dependent. With the depletion of natural resources, the traditional occupations of tribes are fading away, though these are also the outcome of the occupational mobility.
The Koraput District comes under the tribal sub-plan area and PESA. As per the provision, PESA promises devolution of power to Panchayats completing the tribal self-rule. While larger accountability for the utilizing the provisions under the Act is vested in the Panchayats, due to poor understanding of the Act by the Panchayatiraj functionaries the Act seems to have lost its legal tooth in this area. This calls for wider accountability of government and civil society bodies to build the capacity of the PRIs thereby enabling them to utilize the power and authority vested in them for the development of their area and the communities. The customary rules existing even today provide a framework to compare the provisions of PESA and a suitable blending of two can contribute towards good governance to spearhead developmental process.
According to the report of the Committee on the Constitution of Separate Development Board in Orissa, 96% of Community Development Blocks in KBK districts are either ‘very backward’ or ‘backward’. According to the UNDP Human Development Report 2004, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Koraput, Nabarangpur are the bottom five districts in terms of HDI values, three of which are in KBK region.
Considering the above issues, the Centre for Tribal Welfare and Community Development (CTWCD) has been established as University’s first initiative of Corporate Social Responsibilities to foster the needs and take up the issues of the tribals of KBK region as well as other tribal groups of India.
The Centre for Tribal Welfare and Community Development at Central University of Orissa is functional since 5th June,2010. A batch of tribal youth has already received training on mushrooms cultivation. New initiatives are under progress and it is hoped that various trade identified by the Centre will benefit the tribes.
Page 47: Progress of new Campus
April 27th, 2011
The following is from http://www.centraluniversityorissa.ac.in/Faculty_Details.asp?pgid=4 with the information in blue added via web searching.
| 1. Dr. Kanhu Charan Satapathy (Centre for Anthropological Studies) Ph.D in Anthropology, 2007, Utkal University. Previously faculty at SM Govt. Women’s College, Phulbani. Successfully completed the UGC Refresher Course training program in Anthropology at UGC Academic Staff College, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Published a book on "Refugees’ Health" by Athena Books, 2010. Presented a research paper entitled ‘Tibetans in India and Their Coping Strategies from a Bio-Cultural Perspective" at the National Seminar on Bio-Cultural Anthropology: Prospects and Challenges, organized by Post-Graduate Department of Anthropology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in Collaboration with Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata from 27-28 March, 2010. |
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| 2. Dr. Meera Swain (Centre for Anthropological Studies) Previously faculty at NISWASS Bhubaneswar. Presented a research paper entitled "Social Responsibility, Awareness and Participation of Local Communities in Conserving the Coastal Environment: A Study in Orissa, East Coast of India" at the National Seminar on Bio-Cultural Anthropology: Prospects and Challenges, organized by Post-Graduate Department of Anthropology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in Collaboration with Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata from 27-28 March, 2010. |
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| 3. Dr. Debendra Biswal (Centre for Anthropological Studies) Ph.D in Anthropology, Delhi University. Thesis title: Ecology and Health : A Comparative Study of Kutia Kondhs and Gonds in Orrisa. Presented a research paper entitled “Ecosystem approach in health: Is it holistic or partial?” at the National Seminar on Bio-Cultural Anthropology: Prospects and Challenges, organized by Post-Graduate Department of Anthropology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in Collaboration with Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkatafrom 27-28 March, 2010. |
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| 4. Dr. Kailash Bantha (Centre of Odia Language & Literature) Publication of D Litt.Thesis titled "Fakir Mohanka Katha Sahitya re Karma Fala". Edited "Ratnakar Chaininka Charoti Chhoto Natak and Amurta Manara Murta Bhaskar". Publication of Ph.D thesis titled "Oriya Upanyasre Shaitan Charitra". Felicitation by "Dakhin Orissa Sanskrutik Sansad, Malkangiri". |
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| 5. Dr. Rudrani Mohanty (Centre of Odia Language & Literature) Words fail to express my heartfelt feelings when I boarded Hirakhand Express to join as a faculty in the noscent Central University at the bosom of nature in Koraput. Lush green hills, the beautiful bounties of nature, the offectionate studentant teacher relationship in campus added a lively chapter in my life under the caring and guiding umbrella of our dynamic University authority. It makes my life poetic as well as practical and engrossing. |
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| 6. Dr. Ganesh Prased Sahu (Centre of Odia Language & Literature) The Central University of Orissa, Koraput has created educational revolution in Orissa. Basically the Tribal Students of southern Orissa will be involved in that progress. The University has focused on Humanities Study like School of Languages (Oriya & English) and School of Social Sciences (Anthropology & Sociology). The students are really lucky as the first batch of this University. They are keenly interested to attend class programmes at Koraput and try to prove their potentialities through examinations. Being a lecturer I always trying to inculcate inclinations of subjects with deep root of knowledge to my students. Every part towards development of this University is going on smoothly with a proper guidance and good ideology. I wish all betterment and a prosperous future to this new Central University. |
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| 7. Dr. Kapila Khemundu (Centre for Sociology Studies), Ph.D in 2008-09 from JNU. Thesis: Indian Sociology and its Engagement with Values: A Comparative Study of Select Discourses. It is encouraging that the newly established Journalism and Mass Communication, Anthropology, Sociology, Oriya and English Departments in the Central University of Orissa, Koraput are shaping up under the dynamic leadership of University authority along with newly recruited young energetic faculty. Their commitment towards teaching and learning activities is positive indication to establish a vibrant academic tradition to achieve the aims and objectives of the higher education in the country. I firmly believe despite having its location in remote area this university will be recognized in near future as a centre for excellence in education. |
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| 8. Aditya K. Mishra has joined as a Lecturer in the Centre for Sociological Studies on 8th February, 2010. He has done his M.A., M.Phil & Ph.D (TBA) from the prestigious University of Hyderabad. He has published various research papers and reviews in leading peer-reviewed journals. He has also presented several research papers in national and international conferences. His research interests include Sociology of Development, Sociology of Health, Environmental Sociology and Contemporary Socio Economic issues. He can be reached at adityamishra80@gmail.com
Presented a research paper (co-authored by Prof. E. Haribabu [University of Hyderabad]) entitled ‘Interrogating Participatory Biodiversity Conservation: Social Capital, CBCDCs and Conservation Outcomes’ at the National Seminar on Bio-Cultural Anthropology: Prospects and Challenges, organized by Post-Graduate Department of Anthropology, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar in Collaboration with Anthropological Survey of India, Kolkata from 27-28 March, 2010.
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| 9. Sujit Kumar Mohanty has joined as a Lecturer in the Centre for Media Studies on 8th February, 2010. He has done his M.A. (Communication) from the prestigious University of Hyderabad. He is currently pursuing his M. Phil in the Centre for Regional Studies, University of Hyderabad. He was worked with a leading English newspaper of the Southern India – Deccan Chronicle and also undertaken a project with UNICEF. He was also associated with CNN – IBN (New Delhi) for a short while and then moved to TV9 – English as an assignment editor. His research interests include Media and Development, Film Studies & Religion and Politics in Media. He can be reached at sujitadm@gmail.com |
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| 10. Talat Jahan Begum has joined as a Lecturer in the Centre for Media Studies on 8th February, 2010. She has done her M.A in Journalism and Mass Communication from Utkal University. With a teaching experience of 20 years, she has taught Journalism and Mass Communication at the prestigious BJB Autonomous College at Bhubaneswar. She was worked as Project Coordinator for UNICEF sponsored Project on "Children Reporting Children Issues". She has participated in International Visitor Leadership Program on "Community Approaches to Social Issues" in USA in 2008. She has also worked with ETV. She is actively involved with the NSS. Her research interests include Mass Communication Research, Community Media &TV Journalism. She can be reached at talattjb@yahoo.co.in |
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| 11. Sony Parhi (Centre for Journalism and Mass Communication Studies) The Central University of Orissa, Koraput is the outcome of long cherished dreams. Hard work, initiative, collaboration and readiness to face challenges are hallmarks of Journalism and Mass Communication faculty and students. The remoteness of the place and challenges in communicating effectively with a varied audience give ample avenues to our entire team. Rich cultural heritage of this region and the task of disseminating the same through agencies of mass media for holistic progress is our goal. This University also teaches me to pursue knowledge and research while maintaining empathy and harmony towards my environment. |
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| 12. Sanjeet Kumar Das (Centre of English) Having joined in the Department of English, Central University of Orissa, Koraput, I am overwhelmed to disseminate my experiences to young and energetic students in the field of language and literature. The leitmotif of our ‘School of Languages’ is to import education and research in new vistas such as Women writings in the Post modern era, Ecocriticism, literature on Diaspora writings etc. In the domain of linguistics, we focus our research on applied areas such as Computational linguistics, Evolutionary linguistics, Biolinguistics, Cognitive linguistics, Neuro-linguistics, Ethno linguistics, and Geolinguistics etc. Nevertheless, theoretical linguistics like Phonology and phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics are also emphasized for the development of communicative competence among the students. I am pursuing my Ph. D in the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur. |
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| 13. Himani Mishra (Centre for Sociology Studies) The Central University of Orissa, Koraput is now in the stage of infancy and has a long way to go ahead. Still it is constructing the good architects for our future and one day it will definitely achieve this goal where it will be among the best Universities giving proper shapes to the students. Being a part of this newly built institute, I feel glad. |
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March 8th, 2011
The Central University of Orissa Koraput now has a professional looking web page at http://www.centraluniversityorissa.ac.in/. It is still under development though. Following are the ads from Samaja.
September 27th, 2010
The following were obtained from various sources. I don’t vouch for their 100% correctness. Please use them at your own risk.
September 2nd, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Hindu.
The Central University of Orissa is setting up a medical college and a hospital that will bring health care at the doorsteps of the people in the region.
… “A hospital in the region would bring relief to the people,” the Vice-Chancellor of the University Surabhi Banerjee told TheHindu.
A detailed interim project report has been submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
… a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) for establishing a School of Health Sciences, for collaboration in teaching and research in Masters in Public Health Management. The school will also run courses in Nursing Sciences and Allied Health Sciences.
A similar MoU will be signed with Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore, for training in medical and allied health sciences. … The Delhi-based Jamia Hamdard University has also extended help in the field of allied sciences.
As the university enters its second year at the end of this month, it intends to tie up with the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation for setting up a School of Bio-Diversity and Conservation of Natural Resources, and with the Chennai Institute of Mathematical Studies, that will offer a 5 year Integrated M.Sc in Mathematics
Grooming students
“But only obtaining a degree is not enough in today’s competitive world. Personality development is equally important. I have involved the British Council for improving the communication skills of students. The Council has already commenced classes where 75 students have enrolled,” she explained.
In addition to imparting training in Information Technology, efforts are being made to groom and counsel the students before they are ready to “take off.”
At present, 150 students from across the country have been enrolled in the University in the School of Languages and the School of Social Sciences. The former offers Post Graduation courses in English and Oriya, while the latter provides Post Graduation courses in Anthropology, Sociology and Mass Communication and Journalism. The Academic Council has also approved Ph.D Programmes.
Professor Banerjee is also working on a proposal to start an Institute of Marine Biotechnology.
The headline of the above mentioned Hindu report says: "Orissa Central University to set up medical college, hospital." But the content only says that they have submitted a DPR. It does not say that MHRD has agreed for the medical college. It is possible that MHRD is trying to not publicize it at this stage and thus has just encouraged CUO Koraput for the medical college and thus they have sent the DPR. In other words it is not a done deal until MHRD agrees to the proposal and the budget gets passed. We need to see in March 2012 if it is in next year’s budget.
Nevertheless kudos to VC of CUO Koraput as timely sending a DPR is important. Earlier in February 2010 the news was that she was about to send a DPR. Now she has sent it. So that is a good step. Also, now that the DPR has been sent the state can more forcefully lobby for the DPR to be approved. (Before sendng a DPR a tactics that is often used by various ministries when asked for something is: "Send us a proposal or DPR.")
August 26th, 2010
Earlier we wrote about some proposed schools and centers of CUO Koraput. Following is from the Newsflash page of the university.
- Exchange of Memorandum of Understanding between Prof (Dr.) Surabhi Banerjee, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Orissa and Dr K .Srinath Reddy, Chairman, Public Health Foundation of India on 8th May 2010.
- The University has signed an MoU with the British Council, Eastern Region for Skill Development Programme in English by the English Language Experts as per the MoU.
- Signing MoU with Chennai Mathematical Institute University (Professor C. S. Shesadri, Director ) for proposed collaborative programme in M.Sc. in Mathematics.
- The University has taken steps to set up the following new schools / Centre from the Academic Year 2010-2011:
- School of Basic Sciences – Mathematics, Statistics and Information Sciences (Integrated Programme)
- School of Health Sciences – Nursing and Allied Health Services, Public Health and Community Health.
- School of Development Studies – Economics.
- School of Education Technology – M.Sc in Education Technology.
- Centre for Tribal Welfare and Community Development.
The proposed collaboration with PHFI and CMI are really great moves.
July 12th, 2010
Update: Following is from Samaja.
This is a good move. We need more locals in KBK with expertise in public health issues.
May 9th, 2010
The following is extracted from the latest CUO prospectus available at http://cuorissa.org/Central-University-of-Orissa-koraput-india/files/2032010KprospectusCUOdraft%5B1%5D.pdf.
The current schools and centers are:
- School of Languages
- Center for Odia language and literature
- Center for English language and literature
- School of Social Sciences
- Center for Anthropological Studies
- Center for Sociological Studies
- Center for Media Studies
It proposes the following schools and centers.
- School of Basic Sciences : (a) Mathematics
- School of Health Sciences: (a) Nursing, Public Health and Community Health
- School of Development Studies: (a) Economics
- School of Biodiversity and Conservation
- School of Education technology
- Center for Indigenous Studies
April 27th, 2010
From the prospectus cover:
The logo of Central University of Orissa symbolizes the pride of the Nation and stands for search of knowledge. The wheel inside the symbol signifies progress, prosperity and betterment of the human being and has been inscribed in the famous Sun Temple of Konark, Orissa. The textbook inside the symbol denotes the wisdom and source of knowledge. The flame crated in front of the textbook reflects a ray of hope, source of light to overcome ignorance and darkness through the enlightenment. This design represents the universal brotherhood, unity and integrity which is closely associated with the State of Orissa.
The last date for submitting application was April 19th 2010. This year it offers the following courses:
- MA in Odia
- MA in English
- MA in Anthropology
- MA in Sociology
- MA in Journalism and Mass Communication
Its prospectus available at http://cuorissa.org/Central-University-of-Orissa-koraput-india/files/2032010KprospectusCUOdraft%5B1%5D.pdf has a lot of materials regarding the plan of the university. We will write about them in a later posting.
On related news Central Universities of Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are planning a common entrance test this year. The CU Tamil Nadu will be conducting the test. However, I could not find information about this in its web page. I guess their plan came too late for other central universities, such as CU Orissa, to participate in it.
April 26th, 2010
Following is an excerpt from a report in Expressbuzz.com.
The Central University here will soon set up a medical college and hospital in Koraput. Vice-Chancellor Surobhi Benerjee announced this in a release today.
The university is now in the process of submitting the detailed project report (DPR) to the appropriate authorities.
She also said there would be a detailed discussion with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard tomorrow.
Moreover, the university is going to start a school for bio-diversity and conservation of natural resources in collaboration with M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai.The authorities of the MSSRF have agreed to provide all support in establishing the school and run collaborative PG programmes. …
COMMUNITY RADIO: Besides, the university will set up a community radio station in Koraput for the development of the tribal community. A proposal for commissioning the radio station had been submitted to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The university is also going to set up a centre for community welfare in Koraput.
SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCE: Further, the university will sign an MoU with Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, in the area of nursing and public/ community health for its proposed school of health science (Nursing, public health and community health).
February 2nd, 2010
Following is from a report in Indiaedunews.
Proposed Central varsities in two remote areas of the country – Bihar and Kerala have received a denial from the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry to host new Central universities for their states.
Far-flung Motihari and Kasargod in Bihar and Kerala respectively do not qualify up to the desirable standards for a site to be constructed for such universities as they lack the physical and social infrastructure to proceed.
The ministry is learnt to have asked the two states to come up with an alternative location for the set up.
The Central government clearly opposed the stand of the State governments, academics and development votaries who stood by the decision to host the new varsities in the remote areas of the country, which will boost its economy and help in creation of new and additional infrastructure.
The necessary conditions needed for the set up of a university in both Motihari nad Kasargod area are not feasible due to poor access, connectivity and lack in infrastructure in the form of good schools which are vital to attract quality faculty in the varsity.
While Kasargod, located in the northern part of Kerala suffers serious connectivity issues, Motihari in East Champaran in Bihar is considered a backward region.
The ministry felt that constructing such institutes in these areas will mar the whole criteria of establishment since they would not be able to provide quality education through qualified teachers, as they would not be interested to enter in such areas.
A similar problem has been faced by the Central University at Koraput in Orissa which is facing a serious faculty crunch in terms of quality.
Lack of adequate facilities, along with absence of good schools and hospitals are proving to be deterrents for the faculty who are unwilling to shift over to such areas.
In regards to Koraput, Orissa government needs to take some proactive steps quickly; before the problem becomes worse. Earlier we suggested the following.
- Start a daytime train between Bhubaneswar and Koraput. The distance between them is 679 kms. (Note that Koraput has daily overnight trains to Bhubaneswar and Howrah and a new daily train to Rourkela has been announced in this year’s budget.)
- Start an intercity between Visakhapatnam and Jeypore via Koraput. (Distance is 258 kms.)
- Open a knowledge park of 200 acres near the central university. This knowledge park should contain an STP, and other amenities. the state should invite trustees of some of the top private engineering colleges to establish educational institutions such as engineering colleges in this knowledge park.
In addition, the state should vigorously pursue the proposed airport in Jeypore.
December 31st, 2009
Following is extracted from Swaha Sahoo’s report at http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20091203/1053/tnl-makeshift-universities.html. It originally appeared in Hindustan Times. (The article has the first name of the CUO VC wrong. Her name is Surabhi Banerjee and not Saswati Banerjee.)
- Central University of Orissa, Koraput: Started with four teachers taking post-graduate courses in English, Oriya, sociology, anthropology and tribal studies, and journalism and mass communication. One lecturer left soon after joining."We are not short of faculty and have visiting teachers. The procedure to appoint regular faculty takes time," said vice-chancellor …. The university has plans to appoint 15 faculty members initially. With 150 post-graduate students … Guest lecturers are not too keen on visiting the Central University of Orissa because reaching Koraput, 450 km southwest of state capital Bhubaneswar, is difficult. A single passenger train a day runs from the state capital Bhubaneswar and takes 18 hours to reach Naxal-affected Koraput. The closest airport is in Vizag in Andhra Pradesh, a five-hour drive. "Unless some sort of infrastructure development happens in and around the central universities, attracting faculty and providing quality education will be difficult,” said … Banerjee.
- Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh: Lord Krishna Central University of Haryana has been functioning temporarily from the Government Education College at Narnaul, the headquarters of Mahendergarh district, about 130 km west of Delhi. There is no place for teachers and students to stay at the college campus. There is a community health centre (CHC), only one cinema hall, a government school, and a few private schools in Mahendergarh. About 40 km from this place, about 500 acres of panchayat land for the university is under transfer. The process of admission for the M Phil and Ph D courses in English, Economics and Political Science is on. The temporary administrative office of the university is in Gurgaon, adjacent Delhi.
- Central University of Bihar: The state government wants to set up the central university in Motihari, 135 km north of Patna. Vice-Chancellor Janak Pandey has proposed for setting up a multi-centre campus, with Motihari as the main venue. Motihari does not have air connectivity. The university is functioning at a makeshift campus in Patna, mostly with teachers on contract from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur. … In Bihar, the HRD ministry has attached conditions to the state government’s proposal for a central university at Motihari, 135 km north of Patna. Sibal wrote to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in October that the state government should develop infrastructure such as roads and air connectivity as soon as possible.
- Central University of Kerala: .. began two interdisciplinary courses – MA in Comparative Literature and Economic Theory and Global Governance – while only five of the 25 seats in Economics and 15 of the 25 seats in English filled. Teacher shortage …
- Central University of Gujarat: … 25 posts have been sanctioned, but since recruitment is yet to take place, the university has begun functioning with three teachers on contract, temporarily in Gandhinagar. Land is yet to be allotted.
- Central university of Karnataka: “We have constructed just a boundary wall on the 621 acres of land handed over to us and will soon begin construction,” said A.M. Pathan, vice-chancellor of the Central University of Karnataka.
- Most of the universities have come or are slated to do so in educationally backward areas such as Koraput (Orissa), Thiruvarur (332 km south of Chennai), Gulbarga (663 km north of Bangalore), Mahendragarh (in Haryana; 130 km from Delhi), Kasargod (650 km north of Thiruvananthapuram) and Bathinda (Punjab; 146 km west of Chandigarh). The following have temporary locations: Patna, Brambey (20 km west of Ranchi in Jharkhand), Jaipur, Gandhinagar and Kasrgod. The ones in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have not started functioning.
- … only five central universities (Haryana, Karnataka, Orissa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu) have managed to find land for setting up permanent infrastructure.
- In Himachal Pradesh, for instance, the dispute between the state and Central governments has come in the way of setting up the campus.
The following table from http://www.orissa2020.org/appendix/location-of-new-central-universities gives a bit more information on the locations.
| City – Metropolitan area |
State |
Metro population |
| Gandhinagar – Ahmedabad (temporary?) |
Gujarat |
5,334,314 |
| Srinagar |
J & K |
1,104,489 |
| Khunti, Ranchi |
Jharkhand |
1,066,449 |
| Jammu |
J & K |
690,924 |
| Bikaner (Changed to near Ajmer, 80 kms from Jaipur) |
Rajasthan |
624,577 613,000 |
| Gulbarga |
Karnataka |
534,417 |
| Sagar |
Madhya Pradesh |
351,537 |
| Bilaspur |
Chhatisgarh |
319,129 |
| Bathinda |
Punjab |
269,520 |
| Koraput-Sunabeda-Jeypore |
Orissa |
200,000 |
| Motihari |
Bihar |
121,475 |
| Tiruvarar |
Tamil Nadu |
61,270 |
| Kasaragod |
Kerala |
52,683 |
| Tehri Garhwal |
Uttarakhand |
25,425 |
| Mahendragarh |
Harayana |
23,977 |
| Kangra |
Himachal Pradesh |
9,155 |
These are all teething problems and as the campuses get built things will change for the better. Despite these problems, it is wise that many of the states picked the backward areas for these universities.
Some of the things the Orissa government needs to do is:
- Start a daytime train between Bhubaneswar and Koraput. The distance between them is 679 kms. (Note that Koraput has a daily train to Howrah and a new daily train to Rourkela has been announced in this year’s budget.)
- Start an intercity between Visakhapatnam and Koraput. (Distance is 216 kms.)
- Open a knowledge park of 200 acres near the central university. This knowledge park should contain an STP, and other amenities. the state should invite trustees of some of the top private engineering colleges to establish educational institutions such as engineering colleges in this knowledge park.
Another point to note is that Central University of Bihar VC is planning a multi-center campus. CU Orissa should do the same and have multiple centers in the KBK region.
December 5th, 2009
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