To: Planning commission

       Government of India

     

Cc: Ministry of HRD, Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Tribal Affairs

       Government of India

 

       Chief Minister

       Government of Orissa

 

Subject: Establishing a multi-campus central university in KBK and contiguous backward districts of Orissa and improving their accessibility during the 11th five year plan.

 

Dear Esteemed Planning Commission members:

 

We would like to request you to include in the 11th plan the establishment of a multi-campus central university in south-western Orissa that includes the ill-famed KBK districts of Orissa. These districts are not only among the most backward districts of Orissa but also have a very high tribal population. The literacy rates in these districts are abysmally low, let alone the enrollment ratio in higher education.

 

We would also like to request you to include in the 11th plan the improvement of the accessibility to this region (i) by allocating necessary funds and helping in the early completion of the Vijayawada-Ranchi highway and (ii) by allocating sufficient funds so that the various railway lines under construction in this area are completed within the 11th plan period. The railway lines under construction in this area include parts of the three corridors of KhurdaRd-Phulbani-Balangir, Nuapada-Gunupur-Therubali, and LanjigarhRd-Bhawanipatna-Junagarh-Nabarangpur-Jeypore-Malkangiri.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Summary of the Whys and Hows

 

WHY:

 

Why 1: Orissa is the poorest state in India and the KBK districts  are the most backward districts in Orissa as well as India. According to the planning commission’s 2000 figures 47.15% of Orissa’s population was below the poverty line. In southern Orissa (of which KBK is a part) this number is reported in [4] (page 7) to be 89.17% of the people according to the 1999-2000 NSS data  and 72% of the family according to the 1997 census.

 

Why 2: The literacy rates in the KBK districts are abysmally low. They are as follows: Malkangiri 31.26%, Nabarangpur 34.26%, Rayagada 35.61%, Koraput   36.2%, Nuapada 42.29%, Kalahandi 46.2%, Balangir  54.93%, Sonepur 64.07%. Two adjacent districts also have low literacy: Gajapati 41.73% and Kandhamala 52.95%. The state average is 63.1%.

 

Why 3: The existing and recent programs for KBK such as LTAP [24], RLTAP [25] and BRGP do not address the issue of higher education in KBK and the lack of an higher education component in these programs has restricted the effectiveness of these programs. Similarly, the ministries of tribal affairs at the state and the central level have so far focused on K-12 education through means such as Ekal Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, hostels for tribal students [18], etc., but have not focused[1] on higher education.

 

Why 4: KBK needs sons of the soil, (highly) educated in the soil teachers, doctors, engineers, officers etc. to help in bringing KBK to the main stream of Orissa and India.[2] With a high tribal population, it is important that they have higher education opportunities right where they live as often they do not venture out to Delhi, Hyderabad, Allahabad or Benaras to take advantage of the ST seats in the high quality central universities there and the ones that venture out do not usually return home.

 

In this regard one must note that in the US a major percentage of Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans who have a higher education degree have it from colleges and universities (such as HBCUs — Historically Black Colleges and Universities) near their home rather than in far flung universities.

 

Why 5: KBK districts have a very high tribal population. They are as follows: Malkangiri 58.36%, Rayagada 56.04%, Nabarangpur 55.27%, Koraput 50.67%, Nuapada 35.95%, Kalahandi 28.88%, Balangir 22.06%, Sonepur 9.5%. Two adjacent districts also have high tribal population. They are Kandhamala 51.51% and  Gajapati 47.88%.

 

Why 6: Orissa has no central university [30,31], IIT, IIM, IISc or any similar institution of national importance that is fully funded by the HRD ministry of India. It is high time a central university is established in Orissa. Most other countries where they have multiple higher education institutions fully funded by the central/national government, they make sure each state has at least one. For example, in Japan each of its 47 prefectures has at least one national university [10,11].

 

Why 7: Central government spending in fully centrally funded higher education institutions in Orissa is towards the bottom among all states in India. A rough calculation in [44,45] http://www.baral.us/hrd-nh.htm showed that while the central government spent (in 2005-06) per person Rs 4.07 on fully-funded-by-center HRD institution in Orissa, it spent Rs 177.12 in Delhi, Rs 105.42 in Uttaranchal, Rs 105 in Arunachal Pradesh, Rs 77.7 in Assam, Rs 33.78 in Himachal Pradesh, Rs 28.10 in West Bengal, Rs 25.12 in Karnataka, Rs 17.79 in Tamil Nadu, Rs 17.09 in Maharastra, Rs 17.08 in UP, Rs 16.2 in Jharkhand, Rs 16.05 in Andhra, Rs 14.5 in J & K, Rs 13.38 in Punjab,  Rs 8.52 in Haryana, Rs 7.9 in Kerala, Rs 7.39 in Chhattisgarh, Rs 7.2 in MP, Rs 4.87 in Gujurat,  Rs 2.59 in Rajasthan, and Rs 1.87 in Bihar. We then give specific recommendations that will remove the disparity. Similarly, a calculation based on the Moily committee report [43] at http://chitta.googlepages.com/moilycommitteerecommendationworsensinequity shows that the committee recommends spending Rs. 97.94 per person across India. Among the states, the expenditure per person is highest in Delhi  (Rs. 1685.64) followed by Uttaranchal (Rs. 585.16), Tripura (Rs. 158.72), Himachal Pradesh (Rs. 128.3), Assam (Rs. 127.52), Meghalaya (Rs. 122.92), West Bengal (Rs. 122.09), Jharkhand (Rs. 117.48), UP (Rs. 110.99), Manipur (Rs. 109.43) and Mizoram (Rs. 98.29). On the bottom end Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim have zero estimated expenditure, followed by Bihar (Rs. 13.13), Andhra Pradesh (Rs. 24.46), Rajasthan (Rs. 25.08), Gujarat (Rs. 30.82), Orissa (Rs. 33.59), Kerala (Rs. 49.24), Madhya Pradesh (Rs. 49.35), Maharashtra (Rs. 59.67), Haryana (Rs. 62.84), Chhatisgarh  (Rs. 70.51), Nagaland (Rs. 70.86), Punjab (Rs. 81.06), Karnataka (Rs. 91.96), Tamil Nadu (Rs. 97.36) and Jammu & Kashmir (Rs. 97.76).

 

Why 8: As per the NSSO study of 2004-2005 Orissa is at the bottom of most higher education parameters. For example, Table 3.14.1 shows that in the 15-19 age group 29% people in Orissa are attending school/college and in the 20-24 age group this number for Orissa is 6.1%. (Both numbers are lowest among all but the small states/UTs of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep.) For the Scheduled Tribe population these numbers are 17.1% for the 15-19 age group and 4.1% for the 20-24 age group.

 

Why 9: Although central universities are usually open for people all over India it is undeniable that people leaving near it have an advantage over others, especially in pursuing graduate, part-time and executive programs. Hence it is unfair that while many other states have central universities plus more than one institutions of national importance, Orissa has none. This inequity has hurt Orissa and is one of the reasons Orissa is at the bottom of most educational, literacy, employment, and economic criteria.

 

Why 10: One may wonder why not establish state level higher education institutions in the backward districts. First, Orissa has some state funded colleges in these places and does not have the finances to establish more. Second, even if the state establishes new institutions, it may suffer the problem that many educated people from outside may not come to join these institutions. On the other hand central universities have a reputation because of which people from not only the same state, but from all over India are willing to relocate and join them.

 

Why 11: Central Universities work. Central university and even Kendriya Vidyalayas in far flung places attract teachers from all over India. In the North East the multitudes of central universities and other centrally funded institutions have contributed significantly to the improved literacy and higher education enrollment in those states. From the NSSO figures of Table 3.14.1 about attendance rates among 15-19 year olds and 20-24 year olds in the Northeastern states we have the following:

 

State

Attendance among 15-19 yr olds

Attendance among 20-24 yr olds

Arunachal Pradesh

61.1%

22.6%

Assam

53.2%

12.8%

Manipur

79.8%

44.3%

Meghalaya

52.6%

14.3%

Mizoram

68.7%

20.8%

Nagaland

79.9%

32.7%

Sikkim

68.7%

20.9%

Tripura

59.6%

11.9%

Orissa

29.0%

6.1%

 

 

Why 12: The 8 districts of KBK and the adjacent Kandhamala and Gajapati districts do not have any university.

Why 13:  Even if the proposed Indira Gandhi National Tribal University[3] is established in Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh) with multiple campuses, it will neither be able to properly cover nor address the KBK issues. KBK needs its own central university. However the Amarkantak University could have campuses in the other tribal belt of Orissa consisting of the districts Mayurbhanj (57.87%), Sundergarh (50.74%), Keonjhar (44.52%), Sambaplur (35.08%), Deogarh (33.31%) and Jharsuguda (31.88%) with their tribal population percentage shown in the parentheses.

 

HOW:

 

How 1: We propose that the KBK Central University be a multi-campus one with campuses in each of the 8 KBK districts plus in the two adjacent backward and heavily tribal districts of Kandhamal and Gajapati. The particular locations we have in mind are Parlakhemundi (Gajapati), Rayagada (Rayagada), Koraput (Koraput), Jeypore (Koraput)
Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi), Malkangiri (Malkangiri), Nabarangpur (Nabarangpur), Titilagarh (Balangir), Nuaparha (Nuapara), Balangir (Balangir), Sonapur (Sonepur)
Baligurha (Kandhamala)  and Phulbani (Kandhamala).

 

How 2: We envision the KBK Central University to have graduate, post-graduate as well as vocational departments. It would have the faculties [15] of Languages (English, Oriya, Sanskrit, Telugu, Hindi), Tribal medicine, Commerce, Education, Mathematical Sciences (Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Research), Computing, Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Geophysics, etc.), Life Sciences (Botany, Zoology), Applied Sciences (Biochemistry, Microbiology, etc.), Law, Management (including rural management), Music and Fine arts (including tribal music, Dance), Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, History, Anthropology etc.), Engineering and Technology, Architecture, Design, Agriculture, Pharmacy, Medical Science, Journalism, Physical Education and Sports, Veterinary Science,  Nursing and Tribal studies. We do not expect that all of these faculties will be established during the 11th plan and nor do we expect that all of them will be fully centrally funded.

 

How 3: We expect the funding of the university to be shared between the HRD ministry, ICAR (Agriculture ministry), Health ministry and the Tribal ministry at the central level, with free land provided by the state government, and particular research centers established and funded by the various industries that mine and/process minerals in the KBK area. We propose that the state government and the central government set aside a percentage of royalty and other taxes they obtain from mining and mineral processing industries operating in these districts towards this university. Similarly, we propose the companies to set aside a percentage of their profit for this university.

 

How 4: The KBK central university will have significant percentage reservation (say 35% each) for Schedule Tribes and for the people of KBK.

 

How 5: The various colleges of the KBK Central University will tie up with the various K-12 school initiatives (such as girls and boys hostels, ashram schools, Ekal Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas), ITIs and vocational institutions in the area. In particular, each KBK University campus location will have attached K-12 schools, ITI and vocational institutions.

 

How 6: Due to the urgency of the situation in KBK we suggest that the university activities be immediately started in the premises of the following state government colleges in the area. S.K.C.G. College, Paralakhemundi,  Vikram Dev College, Jeypore, Govt. College Phulbani, Rayagada College, Rayagada,  Rajendra College, Bolangir and Government College, Bhawanipatna.

 

 

Elaboration of some of the Whys and Hows

 

Why 1:  Orissa is one of the poorest state in India and KBK districts are the most backward districts in Orissa as well as all of India.

 

The KBK districts of Orissa [3,26-29] are the most backward district cluster of India. They consist of the eight districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir, Koraput, Nuapada, Sonepur, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada which were formed from the three undivided districts of Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Koraput. They are so ill-famed that they are probably the only districts known all over the country by their initials. Special programs, such as the LTAP (Long Term Action Plan) and RLTAP (Revised Long Term Action Plan) were devised for them. In the current Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) there is a KBK Special plan and these 8 districts are singled out from the total 250 districts in the BRGF [35,36] . (See http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=19759  and

http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=19785 )

 

Following are some statistical data about the KBK districts culled from the KBK web site http://kbk.nic.in/background.htm. We have added a few additional data points about the adjoining districts of Gajapati and Kandhamal using figures from [1].

 

The KBK districts account for 19.72% population over 30.59% geographical area of the State. 89.89% people of this region still live in villages. Lower population density (152 persons / sq.km) in comparison to 236 for Orissa indicates difficult living conditions and an undeveloped economy. Tribal communities dominate this region. As per 1991 Census, about 38.72% people of these districts belong to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities including four primitive tribal groups (PTG), i.e., Bondas, Dadai, Langia Sauras and Dangaria Kandhas. 44 CD blocks are included in Tribal Sub Plan (TSP). In addition, 16.63% population belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC) communities as per 1991 Census. Literacy rates are also far below the State as well as National averages. Female literacy is only 24.72%. Some demographic and literacy indicators are summarized below in Table 1.  

 

Table 1: Demographic and Literacy Indicators in the KBK Districts: 2001

District

Popu-Density

Population Indicators

Literacy Rate

Total (000)

Female

(%)

Rural

(%)

ST*

(%)

SC*

(%)

Total

(%)

Female

(%)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1. Koraput

134

1,178

49.96

83.18

50.67

13.41

36.20

24.81

2. Malkangiri

83

480

49.91

92.79

58.36

19.96

31.26

21.28

3.Nawrangpur

192

1,018

49.81

94.18

55.27

15.09

34.26

21.02

4. Rayagada

116

823

50.71

85.98

56.04

14.28

35.61

24.31

5. Bolangir

203

1,336

49.56

88.45

22.06

15.39

54.91

39.27

6. Sonepur

231

541

49.13

92.59

22.11

9.50

64.07

47.28

7. Kalahandi

168

1,334

50.00

92.49

28.88

17.01

46.20

29.56

8. Nuapada

138

531

50.15

94.34

35.59

13.09

42.29

26.01

KBK Districts

152

7,241

49.91

89.89

38.72

16.63

36.58

24.72

9.   Kandhamal

81

648

50.04

93.19

51.51

18.21

52.95

36.19

10. Gajapati

120

518

50.16

89.82

47.88

8.77

41.73

28.91

Orissa

236

36,707

49.29

85.03

22.21

16.20

63.61

50.97

As per the 1997 census of BPL families, about 72% families below poverty line live in this region. District-wise information about the number of BPL families as per 1992 and 1997 census are summarized in Table 2.  

       Table 2 : Census of Families Below Poverty Line (BPL): 1992 & 1997*

S.

No.

District

HCR ^ (%)

1992 Census

1997 Census

Total

BPL

Percent

(%)

Total

BPL

Percent

(%)

(lakh families)

(lakh families)

1

2

3

5

6

7

8

9

10