South Orissa Students’ Association (SOSA) has demanded for another University to promote higher education in this backward area. R P Tripathy, President SOSA in a missive to the Chief Minister has demanded that one and half century old Khallikote College is to be given the status of Unitary University.Mr.Tripathy has said that in the educationally backward and tribal dominated region of Southern Odisha, 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. With its glorious past of more than 150 years the Institution has been one of the leading centers of learning and intellectual pursuits in Odisha. Notwithstanding, paucity of teaching and administrative staff, inadequate state support and overall deterioration of higher education infrastructure in the state, Khallikote Autonomous College has stood out to be recognized as a “College with potential for excellence” by UGC and has also got Star Status by it.
Further, it has also consistently got good ratings from the NAAC.
This is high time that the State Government must do something urgently to promote this island of excellence in the vast sea of poverty and underdevelopment that characterizes the region of South Orissa.
In this regard, granting Unitary University Status to Khallikote College has become an imperative, urged he.
Further, to ensure its expansion and to facilitate the opening up of the new Departments, a campus of the Institution should be planned on the outskirts of Berhampur and the existing city campus should be given a facelift with allotment of additional land adjoining the campus.
Granting Unitary University status to Khallikote College will make the Institution eligible for UGC funds few years down the line leading to its expansion and will ensure better academic standards.
This will lead to the development of a centre of excellence in one of the most backward regions of India and will help in spreading the network of higher education deeper and wider.
Recently the State government has taken the pragmatic decision of establishment of two Unitary Universities in the State and the Institutions going by their past reputation also did deserve the elevation.
SOSA urged the Chief Minister to take a similar decision with respect to the demand for Khallikote Unitary University. This will fulfil one of the long standing demands of the students, educationists, intelligentsia and common people in Southern Odisha, said he.
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