Sambalpur: Deepak Behera, who recently took over as the vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University, said that his main focus would be to ensure overall development of the institute as well as its affiliated colleges.

"It is a matter of pity that only 40 colleges are getting grants and 190 colleges have not been able to qualify themselves to get grant from the University Grants Commission (UGC)," Behera said.

"I will try to improve the neglected affiliated colleges. Many colleges in remote areas of west Odisha lie neglected. My responsibility will be to work for all round development of these colleges," he added.

"My priority will be holistic development of Sambalpur University. I shall try to place the university in the list of 100 best universities of the country and shall also try to earn its reputation at international level," Behera said.

Behera, who has just completed his tenure as vice-chancellor of Berhampur University, took over as the new vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University on Thursday. Soon after taking charge, Behera discussed issues plaguing the university with various departmental heads and employees. He also visited various departments and spoke to the teaching and non-teaching staff and students.

"The university will be judged according to the standard of education. It will be my foremost duty to maintain the standard of education and open new departments," he said.

"I have emotional involvement for this university as I was a student here, joined as a lecturer and also served as a professor for more than 16 years. I know the real basic problems of the university. I am fortunate to join as the vice-chancellor of this university which is the ultimate wish of a teacher," Behera said.

He said the university students should not be confined to their classroom only and should be given opportunity to do something for the society. "We shall provide scope to make them participate in the community programmes for the greater interest of the society and nation-building programmes," he said.

The greatest challenge before the new vice-chancellor will be to manage the shortage of manpower both in administrative and teaching departments.

Earlier, the university had 675 sanctioned posts. But in 1985, the state government reduced the number of posts to 601. Later, it was reduced to 300 when the strength of affiliated colleges went down to 50. But now, when there are 240 colleges, only 61 senior assistants and 24 section officers are managing the affairs in the university's administrative blocks.

To add to this, some 24 employees, including two professors, will retire this year.

Students coming from remote areas are facing a lot of problems on a host of issues - such as not getting their results and migration certificates on time - because of administrative staff crunch.

On this, Behera said: "I am aware of the facts and I will try to fill-up the posts."