Bhanja Vihar (Berhampur) moots satellite campus in Rayagada

The Berhampur University (BU) has sent a proposal to the state government, requesting infrastructure facilities for a satellite campus at Rayagada. "Since educationally-backward Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts falls under BU's jurisdiction, we felt the need for a satellite campus," said vice-chancellor of the university Deepak Kumar Behera.

A total of 147 colleges in these districts are affiliated to BU. In 2006, the University Grants Commission (UGC) launched the concept of satellite campus with the aim to offer professional and academic courses to students in rural and far flung areas and save them from coming all the way to the cities to pursue higher education. "It will also help to enhance the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)," Behera added.

The state has a GER of 16% as against the national average of 19.4%. It is less than 10% in the southern Odisha districts with high percentage of ST/SC population, said a BU official. Higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahy said, "The government is examining the proposal."

After getting the government's nod, the university will start the satellite campus with a few departments. The rest will be put in place in phases. The BU is also planning to introduce some job-oriented professional courses, the official added.

TNN | Apr 23, 2015