CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF ORISSA, KORAPUT AT A GLANCE
1. The Govt. of India gave its approval for establishment of 12 new Universities Bill in 12 states and tacking over and conversion of 4 existing State Universities on Friday, October 03, 2008.
2. The said University bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 24th February, 2009 and became an Act. It was earlier introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17th February, 2009 and passed in the Lok Sabha on 19th February, 2009
3. Prof. Surabhi Banerjee the VC of the University of ‘Gaur Bang’ a west Bengal State University at Malda functioning in a High school was appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa, Koraput vide Notification No. F. 42-2/2009 – Desk (U), Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Dated the 28th February, New Delhi, 2009.
4. Prof. Surabhi Banerjee assumed the charge of the VC of the Central University of Orissa in submitting her joining report to the ‘Visitor’, Central University of Orissa, Rastrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on the same day of notification where in she stated :
“ I here by demit the office of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Gour Bang having already submitted my resignation and join as First Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa from today” (i.e 28th Feb. 2009). We are not aware of wether Prof. Banerjee submitted her joining report before the Visitor (President of India) after the resignation was accepted by the Chancellor (Governor of west Bengal).
5. The First VC of the Central University of Orissa Prof. Banerjee opened her office of the ‘Central University of Orissa’ at 28/6-B, Bepin Pal Road Extension, Po-Kalighat, Kolkota – 700 026.
6. Prof. Banerjee received a grant of rupees One Crore and Twenty five lakhs from the University Grants Commission on 17th March 2009. On 19th March 2009 She came to Bhubaneswar and opened an account in the State Bank of India, Head office Branch hearing A/C number 30715436599. Prof. Banerjee had opened a makeshift office at the Reception office of the integrated Test Range, DRDO office at Bhubaneswar.
7. Prof. Banerjee came to Orisa and met the Chief Secretary Mr. Ajit Tripathi along with other Secretaries and officers of the HE. Dept. on 19th March, 2009 at the State Secretariat and Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik on 20th March, 2009. During discussion when Prof. Banerjee sought for guidance to recruit the temporary office staff, she was advised to appoint after the election is over. Further she was advised to appoint experienced officers who are well-versed with the educationed matters. She was advised about certain retired officials to who subsequently she appointed. They were Dr. Barada Kanta Mishra OES (Retd) and former Jt. Secretary to HE Dept. Govt of Orissa. Dr Mishra was also a member of the State Pollution Board. Besider Dr. Mishra, she appointed Sri Laxmidhar Pati, former Sr. Officer of the Finance Dept Govt of Orissa, Sri Brijaya kumar Parida OAS (Retd), former Jt. Secretary of Govt of Orissa as the Dy. Register, Bansidhar Parida former officer of the State Pollution of Board as Asst. Register. All the above officers left the University with in a short period for the reasons may be best known to Prof. Banerjee. Similarly Ajaya Kumar Mandhata, Kiran Panigrahy left the University.
8. Prof. Banerjee in her first ‘ Brief Perspective Plan’ submitted to the Government of India and the State Government had submitted :
“ In view of my meetings, interactions and search work, I may submit (that) Koraput may be developed as a Satellite Campus, even a constituent College may be setup there. There is adequate land available at village ARUGUL near the proposed site for IIT, which is only 25 Kms away from Bhubaneswar . This is an ideal location. There is also sufficient land in ‘Dhenkanal’ which is very well connected and suitable for Central University”.
9. When the above report was leaked, there was hue and cry among all sectors in Orissa and e.magazine Portal published in its April 27,2009 news that :
“ It is totally disappointing and painful to learn that recently appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Surabhi Banerjee, of Central University of Orissa (CUO) is planning for a second campus in Bhubaneswar for her personal convenience rather than take caring interest of Orissa state. Keeping general election in mind, at the lost moment Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Union Government of India has hurijedly appointed Prof Surabhi Banerjee as the first Vice-Chancellor of the CUO and she is in no mood to move to Koraput due to lack of facilities like airport and modern health care units (Tathya .in, April 26,2009 and Samaja, April 29,2009).
10. The Pioneer in its 9th May, 2009 edition wrote :
“Succumbing to the tremendous pressure from the intelligentsia of the state, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa (CUO) Pro. Surabhi Banerjee has changed her stance. xxxxxxx . Clearly defensive, she said the campus would be opened at Koraput and classes would start in August xxxx”.
11. The Central University of Orissa, Koraput was inaugurated at Koraput on August 29,2009 by the Hon’ble Minister HRD Kapil Sibal in presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa . On 18-09-2009 the Sr. OSD (Admin & Finance) wrote to Sri K.C. Panigrahy, Secretary, Sri Jagannath Mandir, Koraput that :
“xxx . Our University places on record its appreciation for the efforts made for making the inaugural event a grand success. We look forward to your continuous support in the interest of people of Orissa and also for the entire country. In order to reimburse you the expenses, as request please let us have the copies of all bill/ Vouchers / relevant documents to enable the Finance Department of the University for processing the payment in your favour at the earliest”
12. The Pioneer in the Bhubaneswar the edition of 9th February, 2010 reported that :
Xxxx . In response to the allegations against the temple management made by CUO VC Surabhi Banerjee at a press conference in Bhubaneswar on February 3, the management secretary rebuts through a press release : “we are not able to appreciate how and why a VC of her stature could stoop to so low and its speaks her credibility”.
13. While pondering over the issues of the Central University of Orissa, Koraput (The first University for Orissa) one may like to refer the following :
Universities are autonomous and the Vice-Chancellor is the leader of a higher education. As per the norm he/she should be an eminent academician, excellent administrator and also someone who has a high moral stature. As per the Constitution of the University, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) is considered ‘Principal Academic and Executive Officer of the University’. As head of the University he/she is expected to function as a ‘bridge’ between the executive and the academic wing of the University. It is to facilitate this expected role that Universities are always in search at persons with values, personality characteristics and integrity in addition to academic excellence and administrative experience. Finding the right person to fit into the position in important, not only in the interest of the University, but also in the interest of nation building, as thousands of students observe this leadership with high expectations as somebody who constitutes to their future.
14. The details of Hon’ble VC Prof. Surabhi Banerjee visit to Koraput.
(i) Hon’ble VC Prof. Surabhi Banerjee Joined the Central University of Orissa, Koraput on February 28, 2009.
(ii) Her first visit to Koraput was on May 22, 2009 at 1 PM and left Koraput on May 23 at 11.30 AM.
(iii) Her second visit was on June 14,2009 at about 1 pm along with a Central team headed by the Jt. Secretary to Govt. of India, HRD Dept. Mr. Sunil Kumar and left Koraput at about 4 Pm. The team had first reached NALCO guest house, took their lunch and visited proposed sites to finalise the permanent one and also visited the COATS Campus, Gyan Mandir to assess the suitability of the temporary Campus.
(iv) Prof. Banerjee’s thirst visit was on Auguest 25, 2009 at 1 pm and left Koraput on August 26 at 12 noon.
(v) Fourth Visit was the inaugural day i.e August 29 2009. She came with the guests and left Koraput along with the guests in the state plane.
(vi) She could be able to visit Koraput again on September 17, 2009 and left on 18th September. After the inaugural ceremony when she got the bha-bha for the Hon’ble Minister Kapil Sibal and Hon’ble Chief Minister Nabeen Patnaik, She quietly forgot that a first batch students are admitted to a new university, the University office was not yet organized properly, two hostels are opened and there was none except a lone young lady officer Ms. Kiran Panigrahy.
(vii) Sixth visit to Koraput was on October 15, at 2 PM along with some resource persons (friends ?) from Kolkata to conduct an ‘English’ work shop. Left koraput October 10 at 1 pm.
(viii) Seventh Visit to Koraput was on November 27, 2009 at 1 pm along with the Central Planning Commission Member Hon’ble Prof. N. Jadliab to attend a seminar on ‘Tribal Problem’. Left Koraput on November 29.
(ix) Last visit was on January 22, 2010 to control the agitating students. (Generally MA students do not dare to agitate. Unfortunately it happened due to obvious reasons).
Note : Prior to inaugural ceremony Hon’ble VC visited thrice and after it for four times totaling to about 15 days of her total ten use of about one year.
2. The said University bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 24th February, 2009 and became an Act. It was earlier introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17th February, 2009 and passed in the Lok Sabha on 19th February, 2009
3. Prof. Surabhi Banerjee the VC of the University of ‘Gaur Bang’ a west Bengal State University at Malda functioning in a High school was appointed as the first Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa, Koraput vide Notification No. F. 42-2/2009 – Desk (U), Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Dated the 28th February, New Delhi, 2009.
4. Prof. Surabhi Banerjee assumed the charge of the VC of the Central University of Orissa in submitting her joining report to the ‘Visitor’, Central University of Orissa, Rastrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on the same day of notification where in she stated :
“ I here by demit the office of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Gour Bang having already submitted my resignation and join as First Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa from today” (i.e 28th Feb. 2009). We are not aware of wether Prof. Banerjee submitted her joining report before the Visitor (President of India) after the resignation was accepted by the Chancellor (Governor of west Bengal).
5. The First VC of the Central University of Orissa Prof. Banerjee opened her office of the ‘Central University of Orissa’ at 28/6-B, Bepin Pal Road Extension, Po-Kalighat, Kolkota – 700 026.
6. Prof. Banerjee received a grant of rupees One Crore and Twenty five lakhs from the University Grants Commission on 17th March 2009. On 19th March 2009 She came to Bhubaneswar and opened an account in the State Bank of India, Head office Branch hearing A/C number 30715436599. Prof. Banerjee had opened a makeshift office at the Reception office of the integrated Test Range, DRDO office at Bhubaneswar.
7. Prof. Banerjee came to Orisa and met the Chief Secretary Mr. Ajit Tripathi along with other Secretaries and officers of the HE. Dept. on 19th March, 2009 at the State Secretariat and Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri Naveen Patnaik on 20th March, 2009. During discussion when Prof. Banerjee sought for guidance to recruit the temporary office staff, she was advised to appoint after the election is over. Further she was advised to appoint experienced officers who are well-versed with the educationed matters. She was advised about certain retired officials to who subsequently she appointed. They were Dr. Barada Kanta Mishra OES (Retd) and former Jt. Secretary to HE Dept. Govt of Orissa. Dr Mishra was also a member of the State Pollution Board. Besider Dr. Mishra, she appointed Sri Laxmidhar Pati, former Sr. Officer of the Finance Dept Govt of Orissa, Sri Brijaya kumar Parida OAS (Retd), former Jt. Secretary of Govt of Orissa as the Dy. Register, Bansidhar Parida former officer of the State Pollution of Board as Asst. Register. All the above officers left the University with in a short period for the reasons may be best known to Prof. Banerjee. Similarly Ajaya Kumar Mandhata, Kiran Panigrahy left the University.
8. Prof. Banerjee in her first ‘ Brief Perspective Plan’ submitted to the Government of India and the State Government had submitted :
“ In view of my meetings, interactions and search work, I may submit (that) Koraput may be developed as a Satellite Campus, even a constituent College may be setup there. There is adequate land available at village ARUGUL near the proposed site for IIT, which is only 25 Kms away from Bhubaneswar . This is an ideal location. There is also sufficient land in ‘Dhenkanal’ which is very well connected and suitable for Central University”.
9. When the above report was leaked, there was hue and cry among all sectors in Orissa and e.magazine Portal published in its April 27,2009 news that :
“ It is totally disappointing and painful to learn that recently appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Surabhi Banerjee, of Central University of Orissa (CUO) is planning for a second campus in Bhubaneswar for her personal convenience rather than take caring interest of Orissa state. Keeping general election in mind, at the lost moment Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Union Government of India has hurijedly appointed Prof Surabhi Banerjee as the first Vice-Chancellor of the CUO and she is in no mood to move to Koraput due to lack of facilities like airport and modern health care units (Tathya .in, April 26,2009 and Samaja, April 29,2009).
10. The Pioneer in its 9th May, 2009 edition wrote :
“Succumbing to the tremendous pressure from the intelligentsia of the state, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Orissa (CUO) Pro. Surabhi Banerjee has changed her stance. xxxxxxx . Clearly defensive, she said the campus would be opened at Koraput and classes would start in August xxxx”.
11. The Central University of Orissa, Koraput was inaugurated at Koraput on August 29,2009 by the Hon’ble Minister HRD Kapil Sibal in presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Orissa . On 18-09-2009 the Sr. OSD (Admin & Finance) wrote to Sri K.C. Panigrahy, Secretary, Sri Jagannath Mandir, Koraput that :
“xxx . Our University places on record its appreciation for the efforts made for making the inaugural event a grand success. We look forward to your continuous support in the interest of people of Orissa and also for the entire country. In order to reimburse you the expenses, as request please let us have the copies of all bill/ Vouchers / relevant documents to enable the Finance Department of the University for processing the payment in your favour at the earliest”
12. The Pioneer in the Bhubaneswar the edition of 9th February, 2010 reported that :
Xxxx . In response to the allegations against the temple management made by CUO VC Surabhi Banerjee at a press conference in Bhubaneswar on February 3, the management secretary rebuts through a press release : “we are not able to appreciate how and why a VC of her stature could stoop to so low and its speaks her credibility”.
13. While pondering over the issues of the Central University of Orissa, Koraput (The first University for Orissa) one may like to refer the following :
Universities are autonomous and the Vice-Chancellor is the leader of a higher education. As per the norm he/she should be an eminent academician, excellent administrator and also someone who has a high moral stature. As per the Constitution of the University, the Vice-Chancellor (VC) is considered ‘Principal Academic and Executive Officer of the University’. As head of the University he/she is expected to function as a ‘bridge’ between the executive and the academic wing of the University. It is to facilitate this expected role that Universities are always in search at persons with values, personality characteristics and integrity in addition to academic excellence and administrative experience. Finding the right person to fit into the position in important, not only in the interest of the University, but also in the interest of nation building, as thousands of students observe this leadership with high expectations as somebody who constitutes to their future.
14. The details of Hon’ble VC Prof. Surabhi Banerjee visit to Koraput.
(i) Hon’ble VC Prof. Surabhi Banerjee Joined the Central University of Orissa, Koraput on February 28, 2009.
(ii) Her first visit to Koraput was on May 22, 2009 at 1 PM and left Koraput on May 23 at 11.30 AM.
(iii) Her second visit was on June 14,2009 at about 1 pm along with a Central team headed by the Jt. Secretary to Govt. of India, HRD Dept. Mr. Sunil Kumar and left Koraput at about 4 Pm. The team had first reached NALCO guest house, took their lunch and visited proposed sites to finalise the permanent one and also visited the COATS Campus, Gyan Mandir to assess the suitability of the temporary Campus.
(iv) Prof. Banerjee’s thirst visit was on Auguest 25, 2009 at 1 pm and left Koraput on August 26 at 12 noon.
(v) Fourth Visit was the inaugural day i.e August 29 2009. She came with the guests and left Koraput along with the guests in the state plane.
(vi) She could be able to visit Koraput again on September 17, 2009 and left on 18th September. After the inaugural ceremony when she got the bha-bha for the Hon’ble Minister Kapil Sibal and Hon’ble Chief Minister Nabeen Patnaik, She quietly forgot that a first batch students are admitted to a new university, the University office was not yet organized properly, two hostels are opened and there was none except a lone young lady officer Ms. Kiran Panigrahy.
(vii) Sixth visit to Koraput was on October 15, at 2 PM along with some resource persons (friends ?) from Kolkata to conduct an ‘English’ work shop. Left koraput October 10 at 1 pm.
(viii) Seventh Visit to Koraput was on November 27, 2009 at 1 pm along with the Central Planning Commission Member Hon’ble Prof. N. Jadliab to attend a seminar on ‘Tribal Problem’. Left Koraput on November 29.
(ix) Last visit was on January 22, 2010 to control the agitating students. (Generally MA students do not dare to agitate. Unfortunately it happened due to obvious reasons).
Note : Prior to inaugural ceremony Hon’ble VC visited thrice and after it for four times totaling to about 15 days of her total ten use of about one year.
Compiled by K.C. Panigrahy
Director, Tribal Museum, Koraput (Orissa)
Director, Tribal Museum, Koraput (Orissa)
1 comment:
Hostels are just a few dollars night with hundreds of dollars a night for a hotel can compare costs.
Pousadas em Arraial Do Cabo
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