Run for IIM-BERHAMPUR

Run for IIM-BERHAMPUR on SUNDAY, 31st August at 7 A.M from Khallikote Stadium to Gandhi Statue near Barracks

Please share this info with all others you know in Berhampur

Five questions to Odisha Chief Minister from citizens demanding IIM at Berhampur

Five questions to Odisha Chief Minister from citizens demanding IIM-Berhampur

1. Your Government claims that massive infrastructure development has taken place in the last 15 years in Odisha. Now when the Centre is asking the name of a city with basic infrastructure for IIM, your bureaucrats are suggesting that places outside the capital are not suitable for want of appropriate infrastructure. Where are you building the infrastructure then and at whose cost?

2. You promised before the elections that development of Berhampur will be your personal responsibility. After the elections your Government did not find Berhampur suitable among the 10 cities to be developed as a Smart City. The IDCO too has cancelled the IT Tower proposed in Berhampur city. You signed MoU for a domestic airport in Jharsuguda which is justified. But, why did you forget the Airport project for Berhampur?

3. More than 25 Central Institutes and labs have been established in various cities of the State. Why Berhampur city has been singled out and denied a single Central Institute/lab so far? Is this because Berhampur people never took extreme positions like fueling regional hatred or statehood demands unlike other places in Odisha? Are you not forcing the people of South Odisha to think on those lines through your highly biased decisions on Central Institutes?

4. There are innumerable examples across States where Central Institutes have been established in places without a functional airport even though most states have multiple airports.. When the State of Odisha has only 1 airport, why this is taken as the only parameter in deciding the location of central Institutes? Isn’t this a case of double whammy that first you don’t develop an airport in a city like Berhampur and then site the lack of airport to deny Central Institutes? (Thankfully the Central Govt has sanctioned a low cost airport in Berhampur but even that is not being factored in while deciding the location of IIM)

5. Lakhs of youth from Ganjam and South Odisha are forced to migrate outside the State for their livelihood. This trend has only aggravated in recent years. What your Govt has done in its last 15 years to generate employment for the students and youth of southern Odisha? (Not even a screw-bolt factory has been built in Ganjam/South Odisha in the last two decades, the period during which rest of India grew by leaps and bounds thanks to the reforms of 1991)

If the Chief Minister wants balanced development in Odisha then the IIM decision will be his real test. If he succumbs to the mentality of the past and denies Berhampur city the proposed IIM which it rightfully deserves then Odisha Govt will be responsible for perpetuating inequality in the State.

Lakhs of people throng Panchama Siddha Vinayaka shrine near Berhampur on Ganesh Chaturthi

The Samaja

Berhampur city wears festive look on Ganesh Puja

Citizens brave rains to form a Human Chain in support of IIM-Berhampur demand in Odisha

Human Chain in Berhampur demanding the establishment of IIM at Berhampur

Berhampur City Police Commissionerate Soon: Director General Police

The blueprint for proposed Berhampur Commissionerate of Police is ready and would be submitted to the State Government soon for approval, said Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Marik.

The DGP was on a day’s visit to the district on Thursday to inaugurate new buildings of Dharakote and Jaganathprasad police stations. He told mediapersons that priority is being given to strengthen the police administration in order to gain confidence of public.

Speaking on recruitment in the Police Department, Marik said 1200 sub-inspector posts are currently lying vacant for which, interviews are being conducted and 675 persons have already been selected. He added that around 500 retired sub-inspectors of police will be re-appointed by the State Government very soon.

The maximum age limit of the retired police officers will be 60 years and they will work till 62 years of age, he said. Marik said there would be no dearth of retired police officers in the State as they had retired at the age of 58. “The retired police persons would get their last salary drawn as the monthly payment and the new payment would be made after deduction of the monthly pensions. The move is aimed at solving large scale vacancies of the police personnel in the State,” Marik said.

On Maoist presence in Southern Odisha, he said their activities have been reduced to a large extent due to strong policing and security measures. “More forces will be brought in to fight the Maoists, if required,” said the DGP, adding that Maoists of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are still active in different parts of southern region of the State. Marik said ‘Ama Police’ facility will be available in all the police stations. “Ganjam and Berhampur police stations will get this facility by September 15,” he added.

Source: New Indian Express

None-capital cities hosting IIMs and IITs; Berhampur ahead in basics but not so lucky to get central Institutes

Clamour for IIM-Behrampur grows in Odisha

Sources: Prameya & Pragativadi

Berhampur residents take out candle march for setting up IIM in the city

A candle march was taken out by residents and students in Berhampur on Monday evening for the demand of establishment of proposed IIM Odisha in Berhampur city of Ganjam district.

It was part of continuing agitation in the district for establishment of the proposed IIM in the area. This candle march had been organised jointly by the ‘Bhanja Bikash Manch’ and ‘Forum for IIM in Berhampur’. Berhampur MLA as well as leaders of different political parties and social organisations too took part in this candle march. The candle march culminated at Gandhi Nagar square, where a public meeting was held to create public awareness for the demand.

As per the speakers at this public meeting, till now no major national institution has been established in southern Odisha, which speaks of regional disparity in the State.

Meanwhile, the Bhanja Bikash Mancha, has started a signature campaign for the demand of IIM in Ganjam district. The ‘Forum for IIM in Berhampur’ has started using social network on the web to increase support for the demand.

In July this year Union finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced establishment of four new IIMs, including one n Odisha. Although the Odisha IIM has already been included as a choice for candidates appearing Common Aptitude (CAT) in November, the place of the proposed institute has not been decided by Odisha government.

The Central Human Resources ministry has recently requested Odisha government to provide 200 acres of land for free at a place which has better connectivity. The Odisha government is to suggest names of two or three places for establishment of this premier management institute of the country, from which one would be selected.

Source: The Hindu

Why the State of Odisha should establish the IIM at Berhampur? Here are the reasons;

(Following are some of the best arguments in support of IIM-Berhampur as suggested by some readers in this forum)

"When the IIT-Kharagpur was established, Kolkata was the biggest city in India apart from the capital of Bengal. However, the decision to go for Kharagpur paid off and the Institute is today rated one of the best in India. Infact, the town of Kharagpur has only one identity and that is the ‘IIT’. Similarly, the decision to establish IIM-Kozhikode turned out to be a good decision even though there were more deserving cities in the State of Kerala. Seen in this context, establishment of the IIM at Berhampur city will be a decision that generations to come will appreciate as a visionary step".

"The IIM proposed for Odisha will start from the coming academic year and that leaves just 7-8 months for the new IIM. The Berhampur University campus can be used for the upcoming IIM till a new campus is built for the same. If the Berhampur University campus and its infrastructure facility such as classrooms, hostels, library, gymnasium and guest houses are put to use for the upcoming IIM then the infrastructure will be available at the shortest possible time."

"Bhubaneswar houses the XIMB which is considered one of the top-10 B-schools in India. Therefore an IIM in close vicinity will kill the brand and reputation of XIMB which would fade into irrelevance. Additionally XIMB is opening its campuses in Sambalpur and Balangir. Similarly, the NIT and BPUT in Rourkela have been the major centers of technical and professional education in Odisha. Therefore this leaves Berhampur as the city with the right infrastructure to house the proposed IIM in Odisha".

"As far as the suitability of Berhampur city to host an IIM is concerned, in recent times several states have established or have proposed to establish the IIMs in cities like Rohtak (Haryana), Kashipur (Uttarakhand), Dhaulakuan (Himachal), Tirchy (Tamil Nadu), Udaipur (Rajasthan). As is evident, none of these are the capital cities of their respective States and none of them have good air connectivity. So, for a less urbanised State like Odisha air connectivity should not be the only criteria for selecting a location for the IIM. Since Odisha has only one airport in the State capital, adopting this criteria will deprive all other cities in terms of central Institutes. Besides, Berhampur is only 2 hours drive from the Bhubaneswar airport connected by a 4 lane Highway. Additionally, since a low-cost domestic airport has been sanctioned for Berhampur city, this should address the need in due course. Therefore there is absolutely no doubt that the IIM in Berhampur city will be able to attract the best of students and faculty given its several positives".

"Odisha has so far established several premier Institutes like IIT, AIIMS, NISER, IIPH, NIFT at Bhubaneswar, NIT and BPUT at Rourkela, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, VSSUT at Sambalpur, IIMC at Dhenkanal, National Steel Institute at Puri, CIPET & AIIMS mini campus at Balasore. Therefore, the establishment of IIM at Berhampur will lead to fair distribution of Central Institutions in the State".

Widespread public protest demanding the establishment of IIM at Berhampur forces silent political parties to take clear stand

Berhampur railway station to have new entry gate from the 4th platform side and Goodshed road

Prameya

Market terminal proposed at Berhampur

Prameya

Government scouting land for Hotel Management Institute and Marine Academy near Berhampur

Source: Prameya

People from all walks of life join the IIM-Berhampur movement in Odisha

Source: The Sambad

support pouring in for IIM-Berhampur demand in Odisha; even as the BJD remains silent

Source: Prameya

Forum demands IIM-Berhampur at the earliest

Berhampur lawyers meet Chief Justice of Odisha High Court demanding Highcourt Bench in Berhampur for South Odisha

Source: The Sambad

Set up IIM in Berhampur, South Odisha Students' Association urges CM