Higher education controversy in Odisha

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The higher education controversy in Odisha is a sensitive political issue that has caused parliamentary walkouts, violence, and unrest, and has been the subject of scholarly publications regarding the Indian state of Odisha. According to media reports, there has been large-scale discrimination in setting up these institutions of higher learning against a few states, especially Odisha.[1]

It has also been observed within scholarly circles that Odisha (known before 2011 as Orissa) is routinely discriminated against by the Indian government, which has caused the state to lag behind the rest of the nation in terms of infrastructure, poverty reduction, literacy, education, and health.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

## Origin

[edit]

In the 11th five-year plan, the Ministry of Human Resources Development (HRD), Manmohan Singh's government had proposed to set up several premier technical institutes across the country to produce a world-class talent pool in science, engineering, and management, which would contribute significantly towards the economic development of the states where they are located, as well as the nation.[10] The then HRD Minister, Arjun Singh, proposed setting up three new IITs, three IISERs, five new IIMs, twenty new IIITs and four new SPAs, which would receive direct funding from the central government instead of relying on smaller budgets through their state and local governments.[11] Media reports reveal that the distribution of these institutions across the states is highly oblique and largely dependent on the political influence of the state in question.[11]

The following table shows the distributions of centrally funded institutions across India :

State | Established institutions[12][13] | Planned institutions[14][15]

|
|

Andhra Pradesh | 2 Central univ., IITTM, IIT  | SPA, 2 IIESTs, Central univ.
Arunachal Pradesh | NE Regional Inst. of Sc., Central Univ  | (None)
Assam | IIT, NIPER, 2 Central univ.  | (None)
Bihar | IIT, NIPER  | (None)
Chhattisgarh | (IIM, NIT, Central Univ)  | (AIIMS)
Delhi | IIT, IITTM, AIIMS, SPA, 4 Central univ.  | (None)
Goa | (1 Central Univ, National Institute of Water Sports [Under IITTM])  | (National Institute of Technology)
Gujarat | IIM, NIPER, IIT, NID  | (None)
Haryana | NITTR  | (IIM, Central Univ)
Himachal Pradesh | Indian Inst. of Adv. Studies  | (IIT)
Jammu & Kashmir | (National Institute of Technology, Srinagar)  | (none)
Jharkhand | Indian School of Mines, NIFFT  | (None)
Karnataka | IISc, IIM, ISI, IIIT  | (None)
Kerala | IIM, SCT Instt. of Med. Sc., IISER  | IIST
Madhya Pradesh | IIM, IIITM, IITTM, NITTR, IIITD&M, NIT, IISER  | SPA, IIT, AIIMS, NID, World Class Univ, Central Univ
Maharashtra | IIT, NITIE, BOAT, AFMC, Central univ., IISER  | (None)
Manipur | Central Agr. Univ.  | Central univ.
Meghalaya | Central univ.  | IIM
Mizoram | Central univ.  | (None)
Nagaland | Central univ.  | (None)
Orissa | NISER, CIPET, RMRC, NIRTR, IIPH, IoDS, RIE, CTRTC, IMMT, IoP, NIT, IIHT, ILS, XIMB, IIIT, IITTM, IIMC, IIT, AIIMS, IISER, IIM, NRRI, Central Univ.  | (None)
Punjab | NIPER, SLIET, NITTR, IISER  | (None)
Rajasthan | IIT  | (AIIMS)
Sikkim | (None)  | Central univ.
Tamil Nadu | IIT, NITTR, BOAT, Central univ.  | IIIT
Tripura | (None)  | Central univ.
Uttarakhand | IIT  | (None)
Uttar Pradesh | IIT, IIM, IIIT, BOAT, 3 Central univ.  | IIEST, Central univ.
West Bengal | IIT  | (None)

## Alleged discrimination in existing institutions

[edit]

None of the premier institutions of national importance are located in the eastern state of Odisha. In terms of per capita funding received from the HRD ministry, it is among the bottom-most of all states. The only states below it are Bihar, Rajasthan, and a few very small states in the northeastern region. There have been estimates of the amount of HRD funding received by each state within the Indian union. One recently published estimate is provided in the table below.[16][17]

State | Total2 | Per capita | Times Orissa | State | Total* | Per capita | Times Orissa

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Andhra Pradesh | 124.60  | 16  | 3.94  | Arunachal Pradesh | 14.5  | 127.00  | 31.2
Assam | 225.74  | 82.00  | 20.13  | Bihar | 15.38  | 1.87  | 0.46
Chhattisgarh | 15.38  | 17.40  | 1.82  | Delhi | 262.83  | 177.12  | 43.49
Goa | 0.00  | 0.00  | 0.00  | Gujarat | 25.63  | 4.87  | 1.20
Haryana | 18.85  | 8.52  | 2.09  | Himachal Pradesh | 21.18  | 33.79  | 8.30
Jammu & Kashmir | 15.38  | 14.51  | 3.56  | Jharkhand | 43.64  | 16.22  | 3.98
Karnataka | 136.63  | 25.13  | 6.17  | Kerala | 25.63  | 7.90  | 1.94
Madhya Pradesh | 42.61  | 7.20  | 1.77  | Maharashtra | 172.03  | 17.09  | 4.20
Manipur | 0.00  | 0.00  | 0.00  | Meghalaya | 54.61  | 225.10  | 55.27
Mizoram | 54.61  | 584.05  | 143.40  | Nagaland | 54.61  | 249.01  | 61.14
Orissa | 15.38 | 4.07 | 1.00 | Punjab | 33.55  | 13.34  | 3.27
Rajasthan | 15.38  | 2.59  | 0.64  | Sikkim | 0.00  | 0.00  | 0.00
Tamil Nadu | 112.77  | 17.79  | 4.37  | Tripura | 0.00  | 0.00  | 0.00
Uttarakhand | 89.40  | 105.42  | 25.88  | Uttar Pradesh | 293.53  | 17.08  | 4.19
West Bengal | 232.71  | 28.10  | 6.90  | India Total  | 2102.31  | 20.00  | 4.91

*in crore (=10,000,000) rupees

The non-allocation of quality educational institutions to the state of Odisha by New Delhi has been interpreted by various quarters, ranging from politicians to Oriya academics living abroad, as proof of discrimination against the state by the HRD ministry. Odisha, which has 3.6% of the population of India, receives a minuscule 0.73% of the allocated budget.[18] This, it is claimed falls within the purview of a larger pattern of what the national media has labelled as the "step-motherly treatment" meted out to Odisha by the government of India.

## Alleged discrimination in establishing new institutions

[edit]

India's recent rapid economic expansion has created the need for more world-class talent. The Human Resources and Development ministry has undertaken the need to set up several more institutions of international quality. A total of twenty-three institutions were announced, including more IITs, IIMs, IISERs, Central Universities all under the 11th Five Year Plan. As before, the state of Odisha has not been allocated any institution of national importance and continues to be the last state in terms of per capita investment in human resources by the Indian government.[18][19][20] The regional disparities in this regard have been pointed out even by C. N. R. Rao, the scientific advisor to the Prime Minister of India.[21]

### Establishing an IIT in Odisha

[edit]

The HRD ministry has recently announced plans to build three additional IITs in the states of Rajasthan, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh. According to recent reports, the allocation of the new IITs to Rajasthan and Bihar is to compensate them for earlier neglect.[22] Andhra Pradesh, which borders Odisha, will get the third IIT, allegedly shifted from Odisha.[23] If the Indian media is to be believed, the UPA government has categorically declined to establish an IIT in Orissa.[24][25][26]

### Planned NISc for Odisha

[edit]

Government of India had picked Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, as one of the locations for an NISc, which was later could not materialise due to "UGC cannot establish the proposed Centres for Studies in Integrated Sciences under Sections 12 (ccc) or 12 (j) of the UGC Act".[27][28] This issue was resolved when it was decided to set up a similar institution, the National Institute for Science Education and Research (NISER), which would be funded through a separate ministry. NISER is the only such upcoming institution in Odisha, whereas other states have had similar non-HRD funded institutions for several decades.[29]

### Establishing a Central University in Odisha's KBK region

[edit]

The Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) region of Odisha[30] is one of the most backward regions of India, with famines and large-scale starvation deaths reported each year.[31] The region lacks infrastructure and the Indian government has done very little to alleviate the plight of the impoverished masses in those districts.[32][33] There is a long-standing demand by the people of Odisha for the Indian government to establish a central university in this region, as part of the plan to ameliorate the poverty through various direct and indirect means such as education, as is being done in the underdeveloped north-east region.[34][35][36][37]

### Establishing an IIM in Odisha

[edit]

The government of India declared an intention to establish five new IIMs in the country in the 2014-15 Budget speech of the Finance Minister. Odisha State has been granted one IIM institute which the State Government is planning to establish in the second largest knowledge hub of Odisha, Sambalpur having three renowned universities. It is the center of western Odisha with good communication facilities like Jharsuguda and Sambalpur railway junction and an ongoing airport project in Jharsuguda at 50 km distance.

### Demands for centrally funded institutions

[edit]

In January 2014 Union Minister of Steel offered to convert Puri based Biju Patnaik National Steel Institute to a Centre of Excellence with the status of Deemed University[38] In July 2014 Government of Odisha urged to Government of India to facilitate setting up a NIMHANS like institution at Cuttack location.[39] In 2015 Government of Odisha gave a formal proposal to Union Government for establishment of an All- India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH) in the State.[40] In 2017 CM Naveen Patnaik demanded to central govt for Institute of National Importance status for NISER, Jatani through Act of parliament.[41] In 2020 Union MOP&NG and Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan writes to Ramesh Pokhriyal, seeks Central University status for Utkal University.[42] In 2021 CM Naveen Patnaik raised the demand for establishment of 2nd AIIMS for Sundergarh district.[43] In March 2022 Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari demands in Parliament to convert VSSUT Burla in the line of Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar of Assam.[44] The mass convention proposed by the Nagarik Suraksha Samiti in Rourkela in August 2023 has demanded setting up of a Central Tribal University (CTU) in Sundargarh district.[45]

## Politics related to the issue

[edit]

### Hot parliamentary issue

[edit]

Politicians including the chief minister of Odisha, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, have sought to cast this festering issue as a sign of severe neglect of the state by the government in New Delhi led by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).[46][47][48][49][50][51] In May 2007, the issue became a major issue in the Indian parliament.[52][53][54] In his words, "Orissa does not have a single institution of national excellence and the demand for IIT is a long-standing one".[55] The opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) staged a walk-out in the Indian parliament, accusing the ruling UPA of neglecting the state's economic development.[56][57][58]

It was reported by sections of the media in May 2007 that the Congress party-led UPA government was embarrassed by this issue.[59] The HRD minister, Mr. Arjun Singh has also relented.[60]

### Street protests against alleged discrimination

[edit]

There have been several incidents of protest in Odisha in 2007.[61] Students have taken to the streets to demand the setting up of an IIT and other educational institutions in Odisha.[62][63][64] Agamee Orissa, an organisation spearheading a mass agitation in Odisha has organised statewide rallies.[65][66] There also have been stray incidents of violence related to the issue of Odisha's neglect.[67] In May 2007, this issue was taken up by the National Students Union of India (NSUI).[68]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Telegraph (1 February 2007). "Cry to end higher education divide". Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
2. ^ Arjan de Haan; Amaresh Dubey (2006). "Poverty, Disparities, or the Development of Underdevelopment in Orissa" (PDF). Economic and Political Weekly. 40 (22, 23): 2330–2340. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
3. ^ Arjan de Haan (May 2004). "Conceptualising social exclusion in the context of India's poorest regions: a contribution to the quantitative-qualitative debate" (PDF). Conference on Experiences of Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Poverty Appraisal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
4. ^ B. K. Malik; S. K. Mohanty (March–April 2006). "Chronic Poverty and Remote Rural Areas in Eastern India". Conference on Experiences of Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Poverty Appraisal. Los Angeles, California: Population Association of America. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
5. ^ Amita Shah (29 March 2007). "Poverty in Remote Rural Areas in India: Pattern, Processes of Reproduction, and Policy Imperatives" (PDF). Understanding and Addressing Spatial Poverty Traps: An International Workshop. Stellenboch, South Africa: Chronic Poverty Research Centre & Overseas Development Institute. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
6. ^ Kate Bird; David Hulme; Karen Moore; Andrew Shepherd. Chronic Poverty in Remote Rural Areas (PDF). Birmingham, UK: International Development Department, Univ. Birmingham. ISBN 1-904049-12-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
7. ^ Understanding chronic poverty in South Asia (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
8. ^ P. J. Pradhan. "Tata steel's romance with Orissa: minerals-based underdevelopment and federal politics in India" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
9. ^ P. J. Pradhan (12 November 1999). "Analysis: Orissa's history of neglect". BBC News. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
10. ^ Monobina Gupta (1 February 2007). "Cry to end higher education divide". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
11. ^ a b "Higher education, lower development". 21 December 2006. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
12. ^ "State wise distribution of HRD National Highways funding in India: a preliminary report" (PDF). 20 January 2006.
13. ^ "Government of India, Ministry of HRD, Department of Highr Education". 20 January 2006.
14. ^ blogspot. com/ "IITs 11th plan". 20 January 2006. `{{cite web}}`: Check `|url=` value (help)
15. ^ blogspot. com/2007/05/mhrd-discriminates-against-orissa-you.html "MHRD discriminates against Orissa: You be the judge!". June 2007. `{{cite web}}`: Check `|url=` value (help)
16. ^ Chitta Baral (2005). "Statewise allocation of educational funds by HRD" (PDF).
17. ^ Purna C. Mishra (2005). "Denying Basic Human Rights to Citizens of Orissa and Bihar" (PDF).
18. ^ a b Chitta Baral. "Denying Basic Human Rights to Citizens of Orissa and Bihar" (PDF). Retrieved 3 February 2012.
19. ^ "Bias against Bhubaneswar". 1 July 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
20. ^ "The gold that keeps Orissa poor". 17 November 2006.
21. ^ "PM's scientific adviser finds Plan paper weak". The Times of India. India. 30 September 2006. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012.
22. ^ "IITs to come up in Bihar, Andhra and Rajasthan". The Times of India. India. 4 March 2006. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012.
23. ^ "Three IITs for Andhra, none for Orissa". 3 March 2006.
24. ^ "Govt says no to an IIT in Orissa". The Times of India. India. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012.
25. ^ "Centre rules out setting up of IIT in Orissa". 9 May 2007.
26. ^ "Orissa not to have a premier IIT institute". 2 June 2007.
27. ^ "Change the location of the proposed National Institute Science from Bhubaneshwar to Kolkata". Indian Kanoon 20 Dec 2005 10:05 IST. 20 December 2005. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2005.
28. ^ "NIS/IISER/equivalent must be established in Orissa" (PDF). 20 January 2007.
29. ^ "Gross injustice to Orissa:Announced National Inst. of Sc. in Bhubaneswar renamed & shifted".
30. ^ "KBK Districts". Archived from the original on 1 July 2007.
31. ^ "Shocking Reports of Starvation Deaths". 30 September 2001. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
32. ^ "Ferment in Orissa". July–August 2001. Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
33. ^ "Centre to blame for starvation". 31 August 2001. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
34. ^ "Central university as development pill". 20 January 2007.
35. ^ "Orissa demands IIT and KBK Univ". 20 January 2007.
36. ^ "Central University: Union government ignores Orissa again". 13 November 2005.
37. ^ "Open letter to Planning commission, Government of India" (PDF). 2006.
38. ^ Dehury, Chinmaya (15 January 2014). "Puri Steel Institute To Get 'Centre Of Excellence' Status". Sambad Jan 15, 2014 at 7:28 PM. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
39. ^ "Odisha seeks a NIMHANS like institution in Cuttack". The Economic Times Jul 14, 2014, 03:37 PM IST. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
40. ^ "Odisha Knocks Centre's Door for AIIHPH". The New Indian Express 22nd January 2015 06:00 AM. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
41. ^ Bisoyi, Sujit kumar (2 June 2017). "Naveen Patnaik seeks institute of national importance status for NISER". The Times of India Jun 2, 2017, 23:15 IST. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
42. ^ "Dharmendra Pradhan writes to Ramesh Pokhriyal, seeks Central University status for Utkal University". Asian News International Nov 27, 2020 22:50 IST. 27 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
43. ^ Bisoyi, Sujit Kumar (29 October 2021). "Odisha CM raises demand for second AIIMS at Sundargarh". The Times of India Oct 29, 2021, 19:54 IST. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
44. ^ "Upgrade VSSUT to Centrally-funded institute". Daily Pioneer Saturday, 26 March 2022 | PNS | SAMBALPUR. 26 March 2022. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
45. ^ "Renewed demand for central tribal university in Sundargarh district". The New Indian Express 15th August 2023 10:54 AM. 15 August 2023. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
46. ^ "IIT must for Orissa: Naveen". 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
47. ^ "Orissa CM writes to Centre for IIT in the State". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007.
48. ^ "Union Govt's neglect towards Orissa must be corrected: Naveen". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
49. ^ "UPA discrimination on Orissa". 3 June 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
50. ^ "Naveen slams Centre for ignoring Orissa". 20 May 2007.
51. ^ "Rejection enrage Naveen". 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2007.
52. ^ "IIT issue echoes in LS". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 3 June 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012.
53. ^ "IIT Orissa hits Central wall". 3 June 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2007.
54. ^ "Naveen takes up IIT issue with Manmohan". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2007.
55. ^ "Naveen calls for IIT cause". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
56. ^ "IIT for Orissa: NDA stages walkout". 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013.
57. ^ "Orissa MPs stage walkout over IIT issue". 2007. Archived from the original on 10 June 2007.
58. ^ "Naveen kicks off movement against UPA Government". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 28 May 2007. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007.
59. ^ "IIT issue to hit Congress: Congress leaders have no face to save". May 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
60. ^ "Centre will consider IIT for Orissa: Arjun Singh". Archived from the original on 18 June 2007.
61. ^ "Vehicular movement hit over protests on proposed IIT". 2 February 2007. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
62. ^ "Political activists, students demand IIT for Orissa". 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
63. ^ "Child prodigy Budhia rallies for IIT in Orissa". 8 April 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
64. ^ "Janashakti to launch stir against Centre's apathy". April 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
65. ^ "Agami Odisha members demand IIT for Orissa". 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007.
66. ^ "Intellectuals to hit streets for IIT". 3 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
67. ^ "Youths of BJD picks up fight". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
68. ^ "IIT: NSUI plans stir". 23 May 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.

## External links

[edit]

* Center for Promoting an Equitable India
* Orissa at the receiving end of MHRD again: Announced for new IIT for Orissa shifted?
* Orissa Watch Archived 28 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
* Orissa News Updates

21°00′N 85°06′E﻿ / ﻿21.0°N 85.1°E﻿ / 21.0; 85.1