Odisha HRD

More IITs and IIMs — beyond the ones listed in the March 28 2008 announcement — in the offing?

On March 28th 2008 eight new IIT and seven new IIM locations were declared. The IITs were to be located in Bihar, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Gujarat. The IIMs were to be located in Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh (Raipur), Uttarakhand and Haryana. At that time one of the deciding principles was that no state would have both a new IIT and a new IIM.

Since then establishment of a new IIT in Karnataka is often mentioned and because of a typo in the speech of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, a new IIM will most likely be established in Rajasthan. Following is an excerpt from a recent news item about an IIT in Karnataka.

Union Minister for Law and Justice M. Veerappa Moily on Sunday said that an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) would be established at Muddenahalli on the outskirts of Chickaballapur. Addressing a meeting of Congress workers here, Mr. Moily, who represents Chickaballapur in the Lok Sabha, said that he had discussed the matter with Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal. Steps would be taken soon to set up an IIT at Muddenahalli, he said. During his election campaign, Mr. Moily had promised that he would strive to get an IIT established at Muddenahalli, the birthplace of the legendary engineer Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

Following is an excerpt from a report about the IIM in Rajasthan.

What seemed to be a typographical error made by the HRD Ministry in Budget papers has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Rajasthan, as Rajasthan will now get a new Indian Institute of Management (IIM) for the error.

In light of these Orissa should continue to vigorously push for an IIM.

3 comments June 2nd, 2009

IIT Hyderabad to start Masters and PhD this year

Update: The comment below is correct. They have had the Ph.D program since January 2009. Perhaps the MHRD found out about it recently and put out a PIB release and as a result various news items came about.

Following is from http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1255708.

The newly-created Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, will offer Masters and PhD programme from the coming session.

It will offer Masters of Technology (M Tech) Degree in five subjects — Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, the HRD Ministry said in a statement today.

Similarly, students can pursue PhD in nine subjects. These are Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Physics.

Meritorious candidates can avail scholarships. The institute will entertain only on-line applications. The last date for applying for the courses is May 20.

I have not heard about similar offering of post-graduate courses in the other new IITs.

16 comments May 13th, 2009

Thank you Digambara, Sandeep babu, Braja babu and the others: Looks like CUO Koraput will start in Koraput because of your efforts

Following are excerpts from a report in tathya.in.

Professor Banerjee met the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here to apprise him the developments on the new varsity front. 

She is clearly defensive and said that the campus will be at Koraput and classes will start in August next.  …

During the meeting with Chief Minister, she made it clear that the Campus will be at Koraput. 

She said that there seems to be some misgivings about the Second Campus at Bhubaneswar. 

Prof. Baneerjee seems defensive and said that all out efforts are being made to start the Campus at Koraput.

Mr.Dasverma was outraged over the decision and demanded action against the people concerned.

Young NROs led by Digamabara Patra created huge stir in both the state and at national level. 

Professor Patra wrote it to the Prime Minister, Minister HRD and Chief Minister.

More than 100 students, teachers, educationists and members of the civil society demanded immediate action by sending e-mails. 

All of them demanded that if et al the second campus will be opened it should start at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi. 

The Chief Minister’s Office(CMO), was flooded with e-mails from all parts of the world and the mandarins were worried over the matter. 

Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Principal Secretary to CM took up the matter seriously. 

And Prof.Banerjee was summoned to clarify the factual position. 

Madhu Sudan Padhi, Secretary Higher Education department, who did not buy the idea of Second Campus of CUO here, before starting the original campus at Koraput.

Mr.Padhi asked her to make arrangements in Koraput. 

Prof. Banerjee is now under pressure to start classes at Koraput.

Following is from Samaja.

May 8th, 2009

The 12 new central universities will start with only research programs

Following is excerpted from a report in Telegraph.

Twelve new central universities that India is launching will start by offering only research programmes — MPhil and PhD — unlike existing varsities that are controlled by the Centre.

The new universities will focus exclusively on research, at least initially, though they can later expand and offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses not involving research as well, top government officials have said.

… But the 12 new universities will initially offer only research programmes, human resource development (HRD) ministry sources said.

“We will leave it open to each university to decide what research programmes they want to start with. At least one university wants to start with only MPhil courses. That is fine,” a source said.

The 12 new universities are to come up in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Bihar.

At least three of the 12 are expected to start offering courses from the 2009 academic session itself, though more may begin.

The strategy to focus only on research initially at the new universities is based on three major considerations, sources said.

One, it will allow the universities to initially “find their feet” without the pressure of a large number of students, officials argue.

April 5th, 2009

Prof. Surabhi Banerjee named as the VC of Central University of Orissa proposed to be in Koraput

Following is from a report in indiaeducationdiary.

Union HRD Ministry on Saturday named Surabhi Banerjee as Vice Chancellor of the proposed Orissa Central University. The Centre appointed Banerjee, who was the VC of Netaji Subhas Open University, Kolkata, along with  14 other VCs of the 15 new Central Universities in the country.

Noted academician Abdul Wahid has been appointed as the first Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu and Kashmir while DT Khathing has been appointed in that post at the Central University in Jharkhand.

A PTI report names the VC of all the new central universities. Following is an excerpt.

Noted academician Abdul Wahid has been appointed the first Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu and Kashmir while D T Khathing has been appointed in that post at the Central University in Jharkhand.

The other Vice Chancellors appointed are Jancy George- University of Kerala, A M Pathan – University of Karnataka, M M Salunkhe – University of Rajasthan, Jairup Singh – University of Punjab, Surabhi Banerjee – University of Orissa, B P Sanjay – University of Tamil Nadu, R C Sobti – University of Himachal Pradesh, Mool Chand Sharma – University of Haryana, R K Kale – University of Gujarat and Janak Pandey – University of Bihar.

While N S Gajbhiye has been appointed Vice Chancellor of Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya in Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), S K Singh will occupy that post in Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna University in Uttarakhand and Lakshman Chaturvedi in Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya in Chhattisgarh.

13 comments March 1st, 2009

A typo in the budget speech and the upcoming elections may give Rajasthan an IIM

Following is an excerpt from a report in the Times of India.

A typographical error, it seems, has become a boon for the state. The Centre on Wednesday assured the state of an IIM, which was announced earlier, but termed as a “typographical mistake” made by the union HRD ministry.

“The HRD ministry has rectified the mistake. As announced, we will now take action to set up an IIM in Rajasthan also,” acting finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. In the recent budget speech, Mukherjee had said that the new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) were to come up in Haryana, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.

However, Mukherjee later said he was informed that there was a typographical mistake made by the HRD ministry and these institutions were to come up in Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu.

This, however, led to strong protests in Rajasthan and MPs from the state raised the issue in the ongoing session of Parliament.

Mukherjee’s latest announcement has now put to rest the controversy over the IIM as the main opposition BJP was in a mood to make it a poll issue in the state. In fact, after the recent victory in assembly polls, the Congress high command has been heavily banking on Rajasthan and the party didn’t want to antagonise the voters of the state on the eve of Lok Sabha polls.

February 26th, 2009

Four govt. polytechnics in Malkangiri, Boudh, Gajapati and Sambalpur districts approved

Following is from a report in Pioneer.

The Centre has approved a proposal to set up four polytechnics in Malkangiri, Boudh, Gajapati and Sambalpur districts of the State.

In order to lure the youth of the Maoist-predominant areas towards technical education the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has chalked out a plan to establish more diploma engineering institutions. Orissa being largely affected by Leftwing extremism has been benefited handsomely. Malkangiri is the State’s worst Maoist-hit district.

While each polytechnic will be established at the cost of Rs 12 crore, the MHRD has provided Rs 8 crore as the first installment. Technical Education Director Vir Vikaram Yadav said the State Government is planning to establish polytechnics in all districts. The State now has 13 polytechnics, while there are seven such private institutions imparting diploma in engineering.

With the four new institutions planned, many other districts are still left out. The new districts carved out in the 1990s, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Nayagarh, Nabarangpur and Subarnapur do not have any polytechnic.

Yadav said that the State Government also decided to cover all the blocks with Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Accordingly, plans are afoot to cover 125 blocks which are yet to have an ITI.

2 comments January 25th, 2009

President of India issues ordinance establishing 15 central universities; one in Orissa to be called “Central University of Orissa”

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

New Delhi, Jan. 16: President Pratibha Patil has promulgated an ordinance allowing the government to establish 15 new central universities despite last-minute objections by the National Knowledge Commission that the ordinance would hurt higher education.

The President signed the ordinance late last night even as the commission headed by Sam Pitroda tried to convince the Prime Minister and senior government officials against the move.

Patil’s signature triggered a chain of events today that saw the human resource development ministry launch a process of selection of vice-chancellors within hours.

It has also set off fireworks between the commission and the ministry, which the commission believes is keen to retain control over universities while officially calling them autonomous.

… The government is keen to start classes at the universities in the 2009 academic session, said the ministry note to the President.

The ministry, a top HRD official said, will bring the ordinance before both Houses when Parliament meets briefly in February. “We want the ordinance to be cleared by both Houses in the narrow slot for which the Parliament is meeting so that we can start classes from 2009,” the official said.

An ordinance needs parliamentary ratification within six months.

One of the above mentioned 15 universities will be in Orissa; Earlier the Orissa government recommended the Koraput area as the site of this university. As per the bill, available here, the one in Orissa will be called Central University of Orissa.

An earlier copy of the bill (before Goa University was taken out) is available here. There was last minute criticism of the bill and request to not promulgate it as an ordinance by the National Knowledge Commission. See news reports on this here and here. But the President promulgated the ordinance anyway.

4 comments January 18th, 2009

CCEA approves National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology

Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=46323.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval for a new Centrally sponsored Scheme by the name of National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) submitted by the Ministry of HRD.

An amount of Rs.4612 crore is to be incurred during the 11th Five Year Plan for the National Mission on Education through ICT. There is a budget provision of Rs.502 crore during the current financial year 2008-09.

The National Mission on Education through ICT has been envisaged as a Centrally sponsored Scheme to leverage the potential of ICT, in providing high quality personalized and interactive knowledge modules over the internet/intranet for all the learners in Higher Education Institutions in any time any where mode. This is expected to be a major intervention in enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education by 5 percentage points during the XI Five year Plan period and in ensuring access and equity in Higher Education, as also recommended by the Oversight Committee and the National Knowledge Commission. The Mission has two major components viz., (a) content generation and (b) connectivity along with provision for access devices for institutions and learners. It seeks to bridge the digital divide, i.e. the gap in the skills to use computing devices for the purpose of teaching and learning among urban and rural teachers/learners in Higher Education domain and empower those, who have hitherto remained untouched by the digital revolution and have not been able to joint the mainstream of the knowledge economy. It plans to focus on appropriate pedagogy for e-learning, providing facility of performing experiments through virtual laboratories, on-line testing and certification, on-line availability of teachers to guide and mentor learners, utilization of available Education Satellite (EduSAT) and Direct to Home (DTH) platform, training and empowerment of teachers to effectively use the new method of teaching learning etc.

The Mission shall work in close cooperation and collaboration with other Missions/Schemes such as the National Translation Mission, Vocational Education Mission, National Knowledge Network, Scheme of ICT @ Schools etc., to avoid any duplication and attain synergy. It would operate through inter-departmental and multi-disciplinary approach. On the one hand, the Mission would create high quality e-content for the target groups and on the other, it would simultaneously extend computer infrastructure and connectivity to over 18000 colleges in the country including each of the departments of 419 universities/deemed universities and institutions of national importance on a single point rental basis through the Department of Telecommunications (DOT), in a manner that would permit their seamless interaction with a integrated National Knowledge Network. The advent of very low-cost-low-power consuming access cum computing devices, would further enhance the reach of the network. The peer group assisted content development would utilise the wikipaedia type of collaborative platform under the supervision of a content advisory committee responsible for vetting the content. Interactivity and problem solving approach would be addressed through “Talk to a Teacher” segment. The Mission would also have a component of Teacher Empowerment through proper training and digital literacy of teachers to be able to use the e-contents. Renowned institutions would anchor various activities in their areas of excellence. The Mission would seek to enhance the standards of education, in Government as well as in private colleges. Enlistment of support and cooperation of States/Union Territories, Institutions and individual experts would be an integral part of the Mission.

The Mission will ensure that there is no duplication with National Knowledge Network. It will also cater to contents for higher education sector. National Programme of Technology enhanced Learning (NPTEL) Phase II and III will be part of the generation activity.

The Mission would have a three tier committee system to monitor and guide its functioning. The apex National Committee would be chaired by Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development. It would decide on all policy and administrative issues and prescribe guidelines for the functioning of the two sets of Committees namely ‘Empowered Committee of Experts (henceforth shall be called as ‘Project Approval Board’) would be sanctioning individual projects and monitoring the overall progress through various peer reviews and concurrent evaluation.

Ministry of HRD, Deptt. of Higher Education would enter into MoU with State Governments for proper monitoring of the Scheme in their State and contribute 50% of the cost of hardware and 25% of the cost of connectivity in respect of the colleges/institutions/universities maintained or substantially funded by it. Similar MoU would also be entered into with Mentor institutions for private/self-financing colleges/institutions/universities for ensuring that the beneficiary institutions contribute 50% of the cost of hardware and 25% of the cost of connectivity and maintain and sustain the facility created under the Scheme after expire of 5 years.

The projected benefits/results of the Scheme would be enhancement of access to quality education, making available knowledge modules in cyber space and optimal utilization of available resources by using of ICT for educating the masses, especially those inhibited in remotely located areas and places at disadvantage.

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AD/SH/LV

1 comment January 3rd, 2009

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan appropved by CCEA

Following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=46321.

The CCEA today approved the implementation of a centrally sponsored scheme to universalise access to and improve quality of education at Secondary stage, called Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) during the 11th Five Year Plan.

As regards the Financing pattern and fund flow, Union Government shall bear 75% of the project expenditure during the 11th Five Year Plan, with 25% of the cost to be borne by State Governments. Sharing pattern will be 50:50 for the 12th five year plan. For both the 11th and 12th Plans, funding pattern will be 90:10 for North Eastern States. Rs.20,120 crore has been allocated for the Scheme during the 11th Five Year Plan.

The objective of the Scheme is:

• to achieve a General Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 75% for classes IX-X within 5 years by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of every habitation;

• to improve quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms;

• to remove gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, Universal access to secondary level education by 2017, i.e. by the end of 12th Five Year Plan and Universal retention by 2020.

Broad physical targets include improving the enrolment ratio for classes IX-X to 75% within 5 years from 52.26% as in 2005-06, providing facilities for estimated additional enrolment of 32.20 lakh by 2011-12 through, strengthening of about 44,000 existing secondary schools, opening 11,188 new secondary schools, appointment of 1.79 lakh additional teachers and construction of 80,500 additional classrooms.

Interventions approved include providing infrastructure in schools such as new classrooms with furniture, library, science laboratory, computer room, disabled friendly provisions etc, recruitment of additional teachers with emphasis on Science, Mathematics and English teachers, in service training of teachers, teaching aids such as ICT and special focus on SC/ST/Minorities Girls. Steps such as priority for opening or upgradation of schools in areas of SC/ST/minority/weaker section concentration and enrolment drives and special coaching classes in those areas are also envisaged under the scheme.

The Scheme will be implemented in a Mission mode, with a National Mission headed by the Union Minister for HRD and a Project approval Board headed by Secretary (School Education and Literacy) to appraise and approve state plans. Similarly, State Missions under Chief Ministers of the States/UTs will be set up.

The Scheme envisages development of State-specific norms and District will be the unit of planning. The district plan will be appraised and consolidated at the State level and the State plan will be appraised by the technical support group attached to the National Mission. The civil construction will be through School Management and Development Committee with representation from parents, Panchayati Raj Institutions and civil society.

*****

AD/SH/LV

110 comments January 3rd, 2009

Bata Kishore Ray joins as IIT Bhubaneswar registrar

He was previously at the MHRD. See here.

5 comments January 1st, 2009

Central government scholarship scheme for college and university students

The following is from http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=45828.

The Department of Higher Education of Ministry of Human Resource Development [MHRD], Government of India has decided to implement a new Central Sector Scheme titled ‘Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students’ w.e.f. 2008-09. This would be available to upto 82,000 meritorious students per year belonging to non-creamy layer, studying in recognised Colleges/Universities in India, who are not in receipt of any other scholarship. 50% of the total number of scholarships would be for girls. The rate of scholarship would be Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees One thousand only) per month for graduation level for the first 3 years of the College/University Education and Rs. 2000 (Rupees Two thousand only) per month in the 4th and 5th year of College/University Education. The Scholarship would be paid for 10 months is an academic year. The scheme is also open to students pursuing professional courses through recognised institutions. However, renewal of the scholarship from year-to-year would be subject to good conduct and fulfillment of prescribed academic performance.

All the State Boards of Senior Secondary Education ,CBSE and ICSE have been requested to contact the eligible candidates on the basis of the merit list of Senior Secondary Examination results 2008 and recommend to the MHRD the details of Scholars selected against the specified number of scholarships allocated to the Board. The disbursement of scholarships to these selected students will be made by the MHRD, directly into the bank account of the students, through a designated Bank.

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VLK/ska

74 comments December 18th, 2008

Story behind the the ABA Ghani Khan Institute of Engineering and Technology

Following is an excerpt from a report in Telegraph.

… The human resource development ministry has decided to open nine new NITs instead of 10, replacing the tenth with an institute to be named after A.B.A. Ghani Khan Choudhury.

The Union cabinet approved the Ghani Khan Choudhary Institute of Engineering and Technology on November 20, allocating Rs 97 crore for the project.

The institute will be based in Malda, the late Congress leader’s bastion.

… a cash-strapped government has quietly decided to scrap one NIT to accommodate the institute named after Choudhury without spending more.

… Unlike the NITs, which have a national character and admit students from across the country, the Ghani Khan Choudhary Institute will primarily cater to local students, sources said.

“It will not be an NIT and will not even be run like one. The idea, pushed by the late Congress leader’s family, was not to have a national institution but a memorial to Choudhury. And that’s what this institute will be,” a source close to HRD minister Arjun Singh said.

… The Ghani Khan Choudhary Institute will not be run by a central law.

Choudhury’s family members, it is learnt, have met Arjun at least twice to urge him to start the institute. A source in the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that it, too, had been petitioned by the family.

…But the HRD ministry, the sources said, decided instead to propose the Ghani Khan Choudhary Institute in place of one NIT.

In 2009 if there is a friendly government in the Center Orissa should try for Biju Patnaik Instutute of Engineering and Technology along the above lines.

2 comments December 17th, 2008

UCE Burla unitary university bill to be presented in assembly later this week

It is through the Orissa Cabinet. See http://www.tathya.in/2008/story.asp?sno=2413 and http://www.tathya.in/2008/story.asp?sno=2411. Many thanks to the industries department and especially the unsung SM, who I think did the bulk of the work in the government in such a speedy manner.

Following is a report on the subject.

Continue Reading 15 comments December 9th, 2008

Tathya on six deemed university proposals waiting for NOC from the state

Following is an excerpt from a report in tathya.in.

… At least 6 professional educational institutions have applied for No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the State Government for Deemed University (DU) tag.

Those are Vidya Bharati Trust, Bhubaneswar, Krupajal Educational Trust, Bhubaneswar, Nav Dignata Educational Trust, Bhubaneswar, C V Raman Educational Trust, Bhubaneswar, Asian School of Business Management, Bhubaneswar and Ajay Binay College of Architecture, Cuttack.  (Editor’s addition: See https://www.orissalinks.com/archives/1197)

Once they receive the NOC then they will approach the University Grants Commission (UGC) for conferring DU status.

But it seems the Government of Orissa is in no mood to give NOC to these institutions.

Recently held meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary has opined negatively over the issue, said a senior official.

Orissa is having 9 State Universities, 3 Deemed Universities and 1 World Class University and a Central University have been sanctioned by MHRD.

World Class University of Vedanta at Puri, Sri Sri University at Naraj in Cuttack and ICFAI University at Bhubaneswar is also coming up.

In view of the surge of universities in the state, the Chief Secretary Committee has decided not to allow any other professional educational institution for Deemed University status, said sources.

Once they receive DU tag then those will not come under the purview of the Orissa Professional Educational Institution (Regulation & Fee) Act-2007.

… The Committee is of view that providing DU status to professional educational institutions in the state will defeat the purpose of setting up a technology university in Orissa, BPUT.

However all the private educational institutions are making efforts to influence political leadership to favor them with DU tag.

Vidya Bharati Trust(VBT), Bhubaneswar, which runs Gandhi Group of educational institutions has claimed to be the largest educational complex in KBK area of the state.

As the KBK area does not have any university, VBT has justified its demand for DU status.

My thoughts: The two private deemed universities in the state are KIIT and SOA. Both have medical colleges associated with them. The state government should suggest the 6 applicants above that they will get serious consideration for a NOC only after they have an associated medical college, especially in a backward district. This will be a win-win situation for every body.

Orissa needs more medical facilities in most of its districts and even after promising free land and Rs. 5 crore through WODC it is having difficulty establishing medical colleges in WODC districts. Thus if the above 6 applicants establish medical colleges in some of the backward districts in Orissa, then that will help Orissa a lot.

The government is right in being careful in granting NOCs. There are 50+ engineering colleges in the state and not every one of them or too many of them should become deemed universities. By requiring an associated medical college as a criteria for giving NOCs the government will be able to figure out which organization is financially strong and has a bigger goal.

1 comment December 6th, 2008

Food craft Institute in Balangir – needs attention

The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology has several (31) affiliated Institute of Hotel Managements and several (7-10) Foodcraft Institutes. Orissa has one of each: Institute of Hotel Management in Bhubaneswar and a Foodcraft Institute in Balangir. The food craft institutes are located in the following places in India.

Following are the courses offered by the Institutes of Hotel Management and the Food Craft Institutes.

The Bachelor of Science programme in Hospitality and Hotel Administration is offered jointly by the National Council for Hotel Management and the Indira Gandhi National Open University. The Three-Year programme equips students with all the required skills, knowledge and attitude to efficiently discharge supervisory responsibilities in the Hospitality sector. The programme also involves in-depth laboratory work for students to acquire required knowledge and skills standards in the operational areas of Food Production, Food and Beverage Service, Front Office Operation and House Keeping. The programme imparts substantial management inputs in area such as Sales and Marketing, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Hotel and Catering Law, Property Management, Entrepreneurship Development, Computers with special focus on Tourism Studies.

…

Admission to the following courses is regulated by the respective Institutes. Announcement for admission is released by them between May-July each year. Candidates meeting the prescribed entry-level requirements may apply to the concerned Institute. Admission will be based on the candidate’s merit in the qualifying examination.

A recent news item in expressbuzz.com mentions some problem with respect the Food Craft Institute in Balangir.

Uncertainity looms large over the Food Craft Institute here which is unique in Orissa. Reason: The State Government is yet to allot the plot, where the institute is presently located, in the name of institute. As a result, the financial assistance of Rs 1.3 crore from Centre to construct the hostel and part of institute building may return.

The government had decided to set up the institute in 2004 to boost the tourism and hospitality sector in the region. At present, the institute is being run by Ministry of Tourism. Orissa government had signed an MoU with Centre according to which the latter will provide financial assistance to run the institute for five years. Since the State Government is yet to hand over the land to the institute, the stipulated period (five years) of running the institute will elapse soon resulting in closure of the institute.Sources in the institute said if the State government does not do anything, then the institute will face closure in 2009. The Centre is seeking utilisation certificate (UC), which the institute has not been able to submit as the money is yet to be utilised in building the required infrastructure. When asked, Works Minister (former Tourism minister) and local MLA Ananga Udaya Singhdeo admitted that Centre would ask for return of funds if the UC is not submitted. “I have reminded the Tourism Department many times but they are not taking any step in this regard. The land should be allotted in the name of the institute as per the MoU,’ said the Minister.So far the institute has produced hundreds of students, who are well placed in hospitality industry. At present, around 55 students are studying in the institute.

1 comment November 23rd, 2008