A group of young artisans from Balasore have made a pair of lacquer dolls measuring about five feet. The dolls, replicating husband and wife, have been kept on the campus of North Odisha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nocci) for public view. The Baleswari Kala Kendra has taken the initiative for preparing such dolls as they have been working for about last eight years to revive the lost lacquer art form and popularise it. Baleswari Kala Kendra chief Kesu Das said his organisation would apply for registration of the dolls for Limca Book of Records besides claiming as the pair of dolls was "the tallest in the world".

Going global

Utkal University is planning to open an international office on its campus to look after student and faculty exchange programmes and other inter-university research programmes involving foreign students and faculties. Varsity vice-chancellor Soumendra Mohan Patnaik said that they took the decision after the University Grants Commission (UGC) granted them autonomy on March 20 this year. They have planned a slew of measures, including this one, for the growth of the institute. After getting autonomy, the university will have the freedom to hire foreign faculty, enrol foreign students, enter into academic collaborations and run open distance learning programmes, he said.

Start-up ideas

At least seven start-up ideas were put forward by students of Sri Sri University, Cuttack, at the Startup India-Odisha Yatra. Out of a total of 3,600 ideas submitted under the project, the seven ideas made it to the list of 75. Sri Sri University is the only institute in the state from where so many entries have been accepted. Invest India and the state micro, small and medium enterprises department had organised a week-long campaign called "Start-Up Week" from February 15 to 22 this year as part of an initiative by the state government to attract best start-up ideas from the state's students. Nearly 3,600 ideas were displayed by more than 10,000 students from across the state. Among them, Sri Sri University had displayed before some of the selected ideas include Krushaco that connects farmers with experts in the supply chain process and YogicIndia - a venture that aims at bringing all facets of yoga under one roof in urban areas.

Yoga training

A three-day youth training camp named Yuba Abhyudaya was organised here jointly by the Akhil Vishwa Gayatree Parivar and the Dibyabharat Yuba Sangathan in Bhubaneswar. Yoga guru Bishwaranjan Rath highlighted the importance of suryanamaskar pranayam and yoga for youths to maintain good health and mind and build a better society. Experts also stressed on regular recital of gayatree mantra along with practising yoga and pranayam. Another summer training camp on yoga and suryanamaskar was held by the local Yuva Bikash Parishad at the Nimapara College ground in Puri. The workshop was organised by yoga lecturer Adarsh Dash. Thirty youths joined the camp. Yoga guru Gauranga Charan Sahoo and Bhimasen Muduli taught the youths various types of yoga to remain fit, physically and mentally.

Valedictory

The valedictory of annual zonal workshop of Krishi Vigyan Kendras was organised on May 27 at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar. During the two-day workshop, six concurrent technical sessions were organised, in which 122 krishi vigyan kendras presented their annual achievements for 2017-18 and technical programmes for the year 2018-19. Presiding over the event, university vice-chancellor S. Pasupalak emphasised on effective utilisation of applied fertiliser by assessment of soil nutrient status. He emphasised on convergence among various departments for overall development of farmers. He impressed upon the extension scientists to maintain high extension values for effective transfer of technology.