Sandeep Mishra
Post News Network
BHUBANESWAR: Safety is a casualty for students and teachers at Utkal University. The premier university is violating norms set by University Grants Commission (UGC) in the matter of safeguarding students and teachers against any calamity – whether man-made or natural.
While UU, that was once a top university and then earned a bad name in having the most disturbed campus in state, has regained its peaceful atmosphere in the past over one year. Agitations and violence have come down. But, students and teachers are still feeling insecure. Lack of boundary walls at various sections of the vast campus, that gives anti-social elements free access, is a major security risk. The university says it has no funds to erect walls.
According to the UGC guidelines for safety of students, a university should ensure proper fencing of the campus with boundaries of a height that cannot be scaled by anyone. However, at the vast campus at Vani Vihar here, even where there is a boundary wall, it can be easily scaled by anti-social elements.
Due to lack of proper fencing, the campus is faced with illegal encroachment and unauthorized trespass. So much so, some regular unauthorized visitors have set up stairs over the boundary walls for easy entry. Anti-social elements are on the prowl on the campus, it is often alleged.
Fact is also that the vast campus, spread over 400 acres, has several entry points, some of them unmanned by the security wing. Security personnel have been posted at major entrances such as the front gate, back gate and one side-gate. They however take things easy if only to avoid a confrontation. Several students are willing to go any length if and when they are questioned.
The security staff at the gates does not have system support like metal detectors. Nor are CCTV surveillances in place at entry point. UGC guidelines insist on having such facilities. The UGC had asked universities to install the biometric system to keep track of the attendance of both staff and students. UU has not bothered to install the same. Little wonder, UU is not able to keep up with high professional standards.
A university police outpost has been proposed by UGC inside every university campus. Fact is that UU does not even have enough of security personnel to man the entry points.
It has also been mandated to install a system similar to WarnMe through which students can send emergency messages to the university office via email, telephone, cell phone and text within seconds of the occurrence of a threat or an incident. UU is yet to think about such facilities.
Lack of funds
University officials cite lack of funds as the main problem they faced in respect of providing various facilities. “The UGC is a regulator body which issues rules and guidelines and proposes developmental activities. But ground realities are different. Where are funds to do implement these? The fees collected from students are meagre that would not be of any help to promote any developmental activity,” said a faculty member.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has, in his maiden visit to the varsity recently, sanctioned a sum of `1crore for development of UU. “Though the CM has announced a financial aid to UU, money is yet to reach us.” said the faculty member.
There have been some positive changes at UU after Prof Asok Das took over last year. He introduced better facilities for students and teachers. It is during his time that the university returned to peaceful times, though several factors contributed to this change for the better.
“True, UGC guidelines have not been met. A major hindrance is the funds crisis. We are a state-run university depending on funding from the state government whereas Central Universities are funded by UGC. We had started the work on the boundary walls, but this has stopped due to the fund problem. Similarly, other works are also in limbo due to the same reason. Once a provision for funds is made, work will be expedited,” the vice chancellor told
Orissa POST.