RP TripathyIn the educationally backward region of South Orissa, Khallikote College has been a great hope with its exceptional track record of over a century and half. The institution began as a high school in 1856 before becoming a full-fledged college in the year 1878. The Institution with its glorious past of more than 150 years has been one of the leading centers of learning and intellectual pursuits in Orissa. The Institution has the reputation of producing a former President of India and a host of Governors, Ministers, scientists, educationists and freedom fighters among a long list of illustrious persons since its establishment in pre-independent India.
Over the last few years owing to paucity of teaching and administrative staff, inadequate state support and overall deterioration of higher education infrastructure the Institution has failed to live up to its reputation. In the mean time the State Government has granted Unitary University Status to its contemporary Ravenshaw College at Cuttack and University College of Engineering at Burla bowing before popular demands. But, it has remained silent on granting Unitary University Status to Khallikote College after assuring for the same last year.
The Knowledge Commission in its various reports has suggested that historic institutions with exceptional track records should be granted University status to expand the scope of higher education. This is high time that the State Government took the suggestions of Knowledge Commission and popular demands of the region seriously by granting University status to Khallikote College to restore the lost glory and academic standards of the historic Institution. In the interest of the State and for ensuring balanced regional development the State Government must exhibit the same level of seriousness and urgency as was done in the case of Ravenshaw College and University College of Engineering, Burla, by making Khallikote College a Unitary University with a new campus at the earliest.
The Knowledge Commission in its various reports has suggested that historic institutions with exceptional track records should be granted University status to expand the scope of higher education. This is high time that the State Government took the suggestions of Knowledge Commission and popular demands of the region seriously by granting University status to Khallikote College to restore the lost glory and academic standards of the historic Institution. In the interest of the State and for ensuring balanced regional development the State Government must exhibit the same level of seriousness and urgency as was done in the case of Ravenshaw College and University College of Engineering, Burla, by making Khallikote College a Unitary University with a new campus at the earliest.
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It is high time to think about this aspect. The stepmotherly treatment to the demands of Southern Orissa should be stopped with immediate effect and care should be taken to grant the most deserving status to this institution of higher learning.
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