Tuesday, June 19, 2007
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.
