Sunday, June 24, 2007
National tribal varsity branch soon in Jharkhand
The committee of University Grant Commission (UGC) that has been asked to set up the IGNTU is looking for about 1,000 acres of land in Jharkhand for the purpose. The varsity, which will have its headquarters at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, will offer array of courses to students from across the country.
Dr Ram Dayal Munda, a member of the UGC committee, has been asked to look for land in Jharkhand, possibly in or around the State Capital. "The chairperson of the committee, Jose Verghese, has asked me to find a suitable piece of land here to house the IGNTU branch," Dr Munda told mediapersons.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Pioneer: Naveen shoots off letter to PM over central varsity in KBK
| Naveen shoots off letter to PM over central varsity in KBK | |||
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| It may be noted that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has decided to set up a central university for tribals in Madhya Pradesh | |||
| In his letter, Patnaik stated that recent newspaper reports indicated that the Centre had already approved establishment of a Tribal University in Amarkantak, Madya Pradesh but it seemed, Orissa, which deserves establishment of such a central University, had been overlooked. "Orissa's claim for establishment of a central University in the tribal-dominated KBK area of the State may please be given a favorable consideration," Patnaik stated in his letter. He further said that 38 per cent of the total population belonged to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, out of which the Scheduled Tribes population alone was about 22 per cent. Considering the concern for improving the quality of lives of SC and ST tribes, Patnaik said he had already taken up the issue of setting up a Central varsity in KBK with the Ministry of Human Resource Development so that poor meritorious students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes would have access to research facilities and training courses available in Central universities. And this is the logic based on which the Government has opened Central universities in the north-eastern States. | |||
| He further said it was needless to reiterate that Orissa had not only got high concentration of SC and ST population but about 48 per cent of the people were estimated to be living below the poverty line. As a result of this, meritorious students of Orissa were finding it difficult to study in advanced universities due to their poor financial condition. | |||
Statesman: Naveen’s missive on varsity in KBK region
Naveen’s missive on varsity in KBK region
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, June 19: Chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik today sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, demanding the establishment of a Central university in the KBK (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) region.
The letter comes in the wake of the proposed Bill of the Central government to set up Central varsities across the country and reports that HRD minister Mr Arjun Singh had proposed to institute one such varsity for tribals in Madhya Pradesh.
Mr Patnaik, who had described MP getting precedence over Orissa as yet another instance of Central neglect towards the state, today said that 38 per cent population of the state belonged to Schedule Cast (SC) and Schedule Tribe (ST), including 22 per cent ST.
Moreover, about 48 per cent of people in Orissa live below poverty line. So a Central University in KBK region will help the SC/STs and other poor/meritorious students of the region to have higher education and research. This will bring qualitative development in their standard of living, he contended.
The CM referred to his discussions with the HRD minister last month and regretted that a genuine demand of Orissa had been ignored.
He hoped that the Prime Minister will take necessary steps to meet the genuine demands of people of Orissa.
New Indian Express: Orissa feels rejected once again
Wednesday June 20 2007 00:00 IST
BHUBANESWAR: Denial of a central university to the State by the Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry has come as yet another instance of step-motherly attitude of the Centre towards Orissa.
The university will now be established at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, the home state of union HRD Minister Arjun Singh. The demand is pending since 1991 when the then Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had moved the Centre for upgradation of the Utkal University to a central university.
Naveen Patnaik raised the issue again after taking over as the Chief Minister in 2000. However, neither the previous NDA government nor the present UPA government considered the demand favourably.
The latest announcement by the Centre has come as a shock for the people of Orissa. The shifting of the central university to Madhya Pradesh has come after the State was deprived by the Centre from having the National Institute of Science (NIS) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
Describing this as another glaring instance of central neglect towards the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told newspersons that his government would fight for establishment of the university in Orissa. Besides, the BJD would also organise state wide demonstration on the issue.
Underscoring the need for setting up the central university in KBK region, the Chief Minister said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that this would immensely benefit the scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and families below the poverty line who are a majority.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Statesman: CM demands varsity in KBK region
CM demands varsity in KBK region
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, June 18: Reacting to reports that the United Progressive Alliance government had decided to set up a central university for tribals in Madhya Pradesh, chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik said Orissa’s demanded one such varsity in the KBK region had been ignored by the centre. Giving his reactions to the visual media here, Mr Patnaik said it was yet another instance of central neglect. He said he would take up the matter with the UPA government.
Labels: statesman
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Fax campaign against repeated injustice by MHRD
Dear Readers:
I hope many of you are enraged and disgusted by this repeated injustice meted out to Orissa by the MHRD; especially now it seems that the MHRD has orchestrated hijacking of a good, sensible and extremely relevant idea proposed by our chief minister: the idea of tribal central university in the KBK region with the goal of catering to the 50% tribal population in that area and 38% tribal population across Orissa.
Often many have blamed the Orissa government for not taking timely initiatives or not coming up with innovative ideas, but this time it took the initiative, it suggested a great idea, followed up on it regularly, but the end result is same; the idea gets implemented in the home state of the minister of HRD Mr. Arjun Singh.
We must convey our displeasure, disgust, deep disappointment and anger to the central government. Please fax a letter to the PMO (fax numbers: 011-2301-8668, 2301-5470, 2301-5603, 2301-8939 ) and also fax a copy of that letter to the CMO (0674-2400100 ) and Mr. Chandrasekhar Sahu (011-23061695), the sole central minister from Orissa. After that we must follow-up with the CMO (cmo@ori.nic.in) by email and Mr. Sahu by phone (Personal Secy: 09868501233 off: 011-23792469, 23792470) and tell them to take our faxes and meet the PM and the national press with all our faxes and do a dharana until the two immediate injustices of moving an IIT in Orissa after it was announced and stealing the idea of a tribal university proposed for the KBK area are corrected. Following are some pointers and points which may help in writing your letter. I am making it short so that its easier for you to draft the letter.
On KBK Tribal Central University:
- We have been keeping track of this in a blog of its own, http://kbkcentral.blogspot.com, since the idea was first formally mooted in October 2005. See also the earlier postings in this site under that category.
- 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.
- 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.
- A detailed proposal was sent by the Orissa government as well as by us.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
On an IIT in Orissa:
This is also a good opportunity, we must remind the PM regarding the IIT for Orissa being announced and then getting shifted. Following are some pointers on that.
- A green field IIT in Orissa and a branch campus of IIT Kharagpur in Bhubaneswar had been decided in MHRD, so much so that On August 28th 2006, Union minister of state for Human Resources and Development Mr. M. Fatmi said the following Patna. (This was reported in Times of India on Aug 29th 2006, and available for everyone to see at
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1933613.cms and http://iitorissa.googlepages.com/PUmayfinallygetCentralvarsitystatus-.pdf )
- Mr. Arjun Singh himslef had also given word to the CM regarding a branch campus of IIT Kharagpur in Bhubaneswar. His meeting with the CM had been reported on September 29 2006 as follows: The Chief Minister, Orissa, Shri Naveen Patnaik met the Union Minister for Human Resources development, Shri Arjun Singh today to discuss about the establishment of a campus of IIT, Kharagpur in Orissa. Shri Patnaik stated that the Government of Orissa have offered 300 acres of land next to Bhubaneswar city for setting up the campus and the State Government is fully committed to provide all necessary assistance for the institution. Since Orissa is fast emerging as a hub for industrial activities, an institution of the stature of IIT will provide the much needed boost to the efforts of the Government in providing support to these industries. The Union Minister, Shri Arjun Singh stated that the Central Government is positively inclined for setting up such an institution soon.
- More points.
References:
- http://kbkcentral.blogspot.com
- http://kbkcentral.googlepages.com/
- http://iitorissa.org
- http://www.orissawatch.org/?cat=1
- http://www.orissawatch.org/?cat=3
Dharitri: Hopes dashed on KBK Central University
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Pioneer: Arjun hijacks plans for KBK varsity
| Arjun hijacks plans for KBK varsity | |||
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| Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while meeting the Minister October 2005 (*typo corrcted*), had mooted the idea of setting up a KBK central university. It was based on the theory of empowerment of tribals with higher education. | |||
| Patnaik had pleaded with the Central authorities that the concentration of tribals is the highest in KBK and their uplift hinged on education. He had pointed out that the literacy rate among the people of this region was much below 50 per cent. | |||
| He had argued that setting up a Central University in the region would go a long way in encouraging higher education among the tribal population. The university could also set up specialised centres for tribal development-related studies, as tribal development is one of the biggest challenges facing the country today. | |||
| While Arjun Singh had promised Patnaik in clear terms that his HRD Ministry would positively consider the proposal, the result is now otherwise. The Union Cabinet on Friday gave its approval for establishment of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh with Central Government funding. | |||
| It also approved introduction of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University Bill, 2007 in Parliament. This will ensure establishment of a teaching and affiliating university for facilitating and promoting avenues of higher education and research facilities for the tribal population of the country. | |||
| Apart from affiliating the colleges, the university has the power to establish such number of its own regional centres in tribal areas as it may deem fit. | |||
| There will be at least one school in every regional centre to serve as a model school for the schools of the region, wherefrom the tribal students would be expected to join the local colleges, the off-campuses or the university. The objectives of the university include promoting studies and research in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, custom, medicinal systems, forest based economic activities, including special studies in the flora and fauna, and advancements in technologies relating to natural resources of the tribal areas. | |||
| Now, it is abundantly clear that Singh not only hijacked Patnaik's idea but also saw to it that Orissa would never get a Central University in the KBK region on the lines of huge tribal concentration. Since the UPA is at the helm of affairs at the Centre, Singh is playing havoc with Orissa and the State is losing one after another national institutions to other States. While Minister of State of HRD MA Fatmi had announced a proposal to set up an IIT in Orissa, it was later shifted to Andhra Pradesh by Singh, on political considerations, said sources. | |||
Tathyain: Arjun highjack Naveen plan
Arjun Singh has once again humiliated Orissa and high jacked its original plan to set up a Central Tribal University in KBK.
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while meeting the Union Human Resource Development Minister during October, 2005 (*typo corrected*) has gave this idea to set up KBK Central University.
It was based on the theory on Tribal Empowerment with higher education.
Naveen at that point of time pleaded with central authorities that as the concentration of tribals are much more in KBK and their upliftment hinges on education.
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 per cent.
Mr. Patnaik stated that setting up a Central University in the KBK region would go a long way in encouraging higher education among tribal population.
The university could also set up specialized centers for tribal development related studies, as tribal development was one of the biggest challenges facing the country today.
So a Tribal University in the area will serve a great purpose for the most backward region of the country, pleaded Mr.Patnaik at that point of time.
While Mr.Singh promised Mr.Patnaik in clear terms that HRD Ministry will positively consider the proposal but result was otherwise.
The Union Cabinet on June 15 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.
This would ensure establishment of a teaching and affiliating University for facilitating and promoting avenues of higher education and research facilities for the tribal population of the country.
The objects of the University include inter-alia, promoting studies and research in tribal art, culture, tradition, language, custom, medicinal systems, forest based economic activities, including special studies in the flora and fauna, and advancements in technologies relating to natural resources of the tribal areas.
Apart from affiliating the colleges, the University has the power to establish such number of its own regional centers in tribal areas as the University may deem fit.
There will be at least one school in every regional Centre, to serve as a model school for the schools of the region, wherefrom the tribal students would be expected to join the local colleges, the off-campuses or the University.
Now this is abundantly clear that Mr.Singh not only highjack the idea but also saw to it Orissa will never get a Central University in KBK region on the lines of huge tribal concentration.
Since UPA is at the helm of the Centre, Mr.Singh is playing havoc on Orissa and the state is losing one after another national institutions to the Congress ruled states.
While M A Fatmi, Minister of State in HRD Ministry announced of an IIT in Orissa, which was shifted to Andhra Pradesh by Mr.Singh on political reasons, said sources.
