Education for tribal-dominated backward Class

Even more than seven decades after Independence, the tribal-dominated and educationally backward Nabarangpur District does not have an engineering college. Local students wishing to take up engineering as a career are deprived of the opportunity here.

It may be recalled that in 2014, the state government had announced that it would set up an engineering college in Nabarangpur based on the recommendations of a Technical Support Group (TSG). The group had asked the state government to set up the institution under the Rashtriya Ucchatar Siksha Abhiyan (RUSA) scheme.

The department had also written to the Union HRD Ministry requesting it to take steps for establishment of the proposed engineering college in April 2015. Under RUSA, the Centre contributes 65 per cent of the expenses, while the state government gives 35 per cent of the cost of the project. The cost of running the institution is borne by the state government.

The announcement had brought a ray of hope for locals, but it is alleged that the state government has not shown any interest to set up the proposed engineering college. Sources said the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, soon after getting the proposal, asked the state government to scout for land. However, the state Science and Technology department, which deals with the matter, did not reply to the Union ministry.

Former MP Balabhadra Majhi, during whose period the proposal had been initiated, said, “The concerned file remained untraceable till 2018. As the Skill Development and Technical Development departments dealt with it, the file should be with them.”

It has been learnt that the district administration had sent its land commitment letter to the department in 2015 and earmarked a piece of land for the proposed college that needed 20 acres. It was further learnt that again the District Administration had sent a copy of the letter for land to the department in 2028, but nothing has happened till date.

Locals have demanded that the state government fulfil its commitment without further delay.