Bhubaneswar, The Odisha government plans to amend the Odisha University (Amendment) Act 2020, which was enacted by the previous BJD government, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed the state Assembly on Friday. Responding to a question from BJD legislator Ganeswar Behera, the minister assured, “As you are seeking rectification in the Act enacted by the BJD government, we will definitely do it.” Suraj also mentioned that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had sent a letter to the Odisha government regarding this matter.
Addressing the appointment of vice-chancellors in public universities at Jeypore and Baripada, the minister stated that these institutions are currently under the supervision of officers on special duty. He added that once the Odisha University Act is amended, the issues concerning the appointment of vice-chancellors, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff, will be resolved.
The previous BJD government had enacted the Odisha University (Amendment) Act bringing many extensive amendments to the original Act of 1989.
The provisions contained in the prevailing Act regarding selection of chancellors, and recruitment of teaching staff in universities are deviating from the regulations of UGC, the minister said.
Besides, the intellectual mass and several MLAs have also raised questions on the nomination of a representative of higher education secretary in the syndicate of the universities claiming that it diluted the autonomy of the public universities, he stated.
Out of 30 districts of Odisha, there is no government degree college in Jharsuguda, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts. Commenting on this issue, Suraj said, “I assure you all that we will set up colleges in these districts which the previous BJD government was not able to do during its 25 years of rule.”
In a written reply to the House, the Higher Education minister informed that the state government is not going to make any budgetary provision from the current financial year for the ‘Nutana Unnata Abhilasha, Odisha’ (NUA-O) scholarship scheme for college students, which was launched by the previous BJD government.
The government is taking steps to roll out a new scheme, “Financial Assistance to UG & PG Students” from this year. The department is preparing the guidelines of the scheme, he said.
Addressing the appointment of vice-chancellors in public universities at Jeypore and Baripada, the minister stated that these institutions are currently under the supervision of officers on special duty. He added that once the Odisha University Act is amended, the issues concerning the appointment of vice-chancellors, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff, will be resolved.
The previous BJD government had enacted the Odisha University (Amendment) Act bringing many extensive amendments to the original Act of 1989.
The provisions contained in the prevailing Act regarding selection of chancellors, and recruitment of teaching staff in universities are deviating from the regulations of UGC, the minister said.
Besides, the intellectual mass and several MLAs have also raised questions on the nomination of a representative of higher education secretary in the syndicate of the universities claiming that it diluted the autonomy of the public universities, he stated.
Out of 30 districts of Odisha, there is no government degree college in Jharsuguda, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts. Commenting on this issue, Suraj said, “I assure you all that we will set up colleges in these districts which the previous BJD government was not able to do during its 25 years of rule.”
In a written reply to the House, the Higher Education minister informed that the state government is not going to make any budgetary provision from the current financial year for the ‘Nutana Unnata Abhilasha, Odisha’ (NUA-O) scholarship scheme for college students, which was launched by the previous BJD government.
The government is taking steps to roll out a new scheme, “Financial Assistance to UG & PG Students” from this year. The department is preparing the guidelines of the scheme, he said.
