Baliapal College of Physical Education. Telegraph picture

Balasore, May 10: The Baliapal College of Physical Education (BCPE), the only sports college of northern Orissa, is struggling for survival. Established in 1981, it is also the first private college in the state offering three professional courses in physical education up to the postgraduate level.

Over the years, the college, affiliated to Fakir Mohan University, had been attracting students not only from the state but also from other parts of the country. However, efforts of the college’s governing body towards upgrading the standard of professional training here have allegedly suffered a blow due to state government’s apathy.

“We have not received any grants or financial aid from the state government. The government’s apathetic attitude has stunted the growth of the institution. No other college in the state has been deprived of grants in such manner,” said Shakti Mishra, principal of the college.

“Local political leaders have also preferred to overlook the glaring problems of the college. Had there been any effort on the part of the government to upgrade the college, this three-decade-old institution would have become one of the best in its field in the country,” he added.

The principal said that the college’s governing body had written to the state government for financial support on several occasions, but to no avail. “We had even appealed to Fakir Mohan University to include our college as a constituent institution. They too decided to lend a deaf ear to our pleas,” he rued.

Former MLA Jaynarayan Mishra said the college, which was established here during the rule of a particular political party in the state, has been neglected by subsequent governments.