Bhubaneswar, April 17: Demanding University Status for the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district, the student union of the college blocked the National Highway (NH) 26 on Saturday.
Alleging that the Government has neglected the institution, boys and girls of the college squatted on the NH due to which vehicular communication was disrupted.
One student by the name of Chandrakanti Nayak fell unconscious while agitating and was admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital at Bhawanipatna.
Started as Kalahandi Science College from July 1960 the college continued as a Pvt. College till 30.11.1961. The State Government took over the college on 1.12.1961 and it was renamed as Govt. Science College, Bhawanipatna. Conferred with Autonomous status in 2002 the college later got “College with Potential for Excellence” status.
The college was accredited “B++” grade in the year 2005 by the National Assessment and Accrediation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India.
Earlier on Thursday, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra during opening of Aahar centre in Balangir had informed that the Rajendra College (Autonomous), Balangir, will get university status soon.
While the information came as a boon for people of Balangir district, it has sent shockwaves among the locals of Kalahandi district as how can the Government neglect the Government Autonomous College, Bhawanipatna.
According to sources, the State Government has recommended names of few colleges for upgradation to universities under the Central Government’s Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). The names of colleges of western Odisha have not found places in the list, said reports.
