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Bhubaneswar, June 19: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today demanded a central university in the poverty zone of Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today Naveen said that recent newspaper reports indicated that the Centre has already approved the establishment of a tribal university at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, while overlooking the case of Orissa, which also deserves such a university.
Naveen explained that in the state 38 per cent of the total population belong to Scheduled Caste and Tribes, of which the Scheduled Tribe population alone is about 22 per cent. “To improve the lives of SCs and STs, I had written to you in 2005 requesting you to consider a central university in Orissa where meritorious students belonging to such categories could have access to research facilities and training courses available in other central universities,” he stated.
He added that about 48 per cent in the state are estimated to live below poverty line. “As a result, meritorious students of Orissa find it difficult to study in advanced universities due to their financial constraints. Since government of India is contemplating a Bill for a central university, in the near future, I would request that Orissa’s claim for establishing a central university in the tribal-dominated KBK area may be given serious consideration,” he stated.
Export talk
Chief minister today requested Union minister for commerce Jairam Ramesh to set up agri-export zones (AEZ) in Kandhamal and Koraput districts for the export of spices and coffee.
The AEZs are expected to give a direction to export of key agricultural produce. Naveen said a spices park in Kandhamal and an organic coffee park in Koraput would boost export. During his meeting with Ramesh, the chief minister said turmeric, ginger and coffee, produced organically, has a large international demand.
Naveen also sought the minister’s help in the export of fish. Finally they spoke of plans for an international trade centre at Bhubaneswar to facilitate state’s exports.
