UGC fulfils long-standing demand for University in Kalahandi, Odisha
The local community and students have been demanding for establishment of a university in Kalahandi, which is a backward region.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has accorded university status to Kalahandi University. Kalahandi University is a new State Public University, carved out of Sambalpur University by the Odisha government in 2020-21.
Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan made the announcement over Twitter and wrote: “Kalahandi university has been included in the list of universities established as per section 2(f) of UGC Act-1956. The decision is expected to meet the expectations and aspirations of students in the surrounding districts, including the tribal-dominated Kalahandi, and to provide quality education through the Prime Minister's visionary National Education Policy (NEP)."
The local community and students have been demanding for establishment of a university in Kalahandi, which is a backward region. A few years ago students organised a 10-day long protest for the up-gradation of Bhawanipatna Government Autonomous College into a university. Kalahandi University has been created by upgrading the erstwhile Government (Autonomous) College, Bhawanipatna. It is an affiliating University having about 50 colleges of Kalahandi and Nuapada districts under its affiliating jurisdiction.
Pradhan further wrote: “The grant will help strengthen the university's infrastructure and help the students in the district grow.”
With UGC recognition, the University is now empowered to award degrees as specified by the UGC under Section 22 of the UGC Act 1956 by conducting courses through its own departments, its constituent colleges and/or through its affiliated colleges in regular mode with the approval of concerned statutory bodies/councils, wherever it is required.
The UGC letter states: “The University shall operate only within the territorial jurisdiction allotted to it under its Act and in no case beyond the territory of the State of its location. The University is not allowed to start any off-campus centre beyond the territorial jurisdiction as provided in the Act and under no circumstances beyond the State of its location.”
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Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.