Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 4: The work of making Rama Devi Women’s Autonomous College the first women’s university in the state is in limbo.
Four months ago, the Centre declared that the autonomous college would be made a women’s university. However, the lack of funds has stalled this initiative.The Rashtriya Uchattar Sikshya Abhiyan (RUSA) in its 4th PAB meeting December 5 also approved conversion of Khallikote Autonomous College into a cluster. It has also been decided to turn Samanta Chandra Sekhar Autonomous College, Puri, Kuntala Kumari Sabat Degree College, Balasore, and
Government Degree College, Sundargarh, into model colleges.
RUSA has approved Rs 55 crore each for RD Women’s College and Khallikote Autonomous College while Rs 4 crore each has been sanctioned for three model colleges in Puri, Balasore and Sundaragrh. Moreover, Rs 20 crore each has also been sanctioned for Utkal University, Sambalpur University and Berhampur University for development under the Letter of Intent (LoI).The state submitted the detailed project reports (DPRs) for all three projects February 10.
“A two-member consultant team from RUSA visited the state February 10. They took the project reports and sent them back to us March 10 with proposed amendments. We have revised those and sent them again March 17. However, the funds have yet to be released and thus the work has been stalled,” said a senior official here.
“We have written a number of times to the Centre to release the funds, but have not got a reply yet. However, the projects have been approved and we hope the work will begin soon after the funds are received,” said the official.
