Union HRD Minister inaugurates Central University of Orissa at Koraput
The first Central University of Orissa at Koraput tribal populated district inaugurated by the Union Minister, Human Resource Development, Govt. of India Kapil Sibbal today (Saturday) at Nisani Munda (Tribal Pitha) started functioning in the building Council Of Analytical Tribal Studies (COATS). This would start running from today for the period of 3 years having its hostel facilities till the completion of the permanent university campus near Koraput. It was a significant development as the Central University happens to be the first university in the state of Odisha particularly the undeveloped Koraput district in the state. While inaugurating the university, it was the dream of Indira, Rajib and Rahul for establishment of the university much earlier and it is the right of the people of Koraput to get the university and finally got it, Minister Sibbal said. Mahatma Gandhi told, the people of Koraput district under the leadership Laxman Naik fought for independence and Laxman Naik died inside the jail at Berhampur. The contribution of Laxman Naik and his followers for independence dragged the government for the establishment of Central University for the better cause of the people of this district. India had 20 universities and 450 colleges at the time of independence and now its number touched 480 universities wherein 1,25,00,000 students are reading, Kapil Sibbal said. It is quite unfortunate that the undivided Koraput district rich with tribal population and better climatic condition bigger than the Kerala and Haryana states and had no universities, as a result of which the UPA govt. decided to open 16 central universities in India out of which Koraput is one. Kapil Sibbal assured the university in Koraput would be one of the best universities in the international repute. The new educational policy will be introduced for better standard of education and for better future of India. Urged the leaders of various political party's leader not to drag the educational system to politics and not to politicalise the education system. He felt sad that, only 12% of HSC pass outs are only completing graduation other 88% are failed to reach at graduation level. Further, he stressed the need of increasing the percentages of student passed in HSC should complete the graduation too. Later in a Press Meet Mr. Kapil Sibbal said a Right to Education bill will be introduced and it is the duty of State Govt. to implement it for better future of the students' reading at the schools, colleges and universities. He had a discussion to strengthen the communication system to get the faculties from different distinct places to Koraput improving the airport at Jeypore. He requested the Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Surabhee Banerjee to design the course curriculum in such a way which will help to uplift the local cultural ethos at international level.
The Chief Minister, Orissa Mr. Naveen Patnaik who was the Chief Guest at the function appreciated the UPA govt. for establishment of this Central University and expressed his desire for setting up a Medical College by the Central University to cater the needs of the tribal people who are leading miserable life for better medical assistance.
The first of Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Surabhee Banerjee of the Central University of Orissa, Koraput in her introduction speech told that they already introduced Post Graduates courses in English, Oriya, Journalism & Mass Communication, Anthropology and Sociology leading to the Master degree. She also assured to develop the university campus into a green campus and had ambitious plans for setting up medical college, if fails she introduce School of Health Science and empowerment programmes for tribal community introducing Audio & Video Facilities and Community Radio System. Further she expressed to adopt policies like the collaboration of the university with various world class universities, secondly it will induct the eminent professors or faculties from outside and it will form an Internal Quality Cell for looking after the all round development of the university and got an ambition to make the Koraput town is one of the attractive town in the world.
The others who spoke in the meeting are Mr. Pyari Mohan Mohapatro, Rajya Sabha MP from Orissa; Debi Prasad Mishra, Higher Education Minister, Orissa; Ramesh Ch. Majhi, Minister of State, Science & Technology, Orissa; Jayaram Pangi, MP, Koraput Parliamentary Constituency, Raghuram Padal, MLA, Koraput; Opposition Leader Orissa State Assembly Bhupinder Singh. The Dist. Collector Gadadhar Parida who was present organised to conduct the meeting peacefully.
