Sonepur: Members of the Balangir Nagarik Committee and the Sonepur Sachetan Nagarik Manch were unequivocal on naming the Balangir medical college after saint poet Bhima Bhoi.

A meeting of the committees was held at the Bhima Bhoi Kala Mandap here on Friday after the Medical Council of India on Thursday gave nod for the first batch admission into the MBBS course from this academic session. Residents of Balangir and Sonepur have gone in a celebratory mode after the news of the council's permission to the much-awaited project spread among the residents.

Manch president Shyama Om Prasad Mishra, who convened the meeting, said it would be very inspirational if the college was named after the saint poet. "Bhima Bhoi remains an inspiration for many through his services to the mankind with his iconic poems that have the messages of the philosophy of services and humanity. If the medical college is named after him, it will instil a sense of selfless service that is most required in a medical institution," he said.

He said the saint poet's spiritual and literary evolution had taken place in Sonepur, which was part of erstwhile Balangir district. "Bhoi had made Sonepur his home, and it is in Sonepur that he wrote the innumerable poems and also propagated Mahima dharma which he founded. Since Sonepur had been a part of Balangir district till recently, there should be no problem naming the medical college after the saint poet," he said.

Committee president Bhawani Shankar Satapathy threatened to launch agitation if steps are not taken to name the medical college after the poet.

"Naming the medical college after him will be the best tribute to one of the greatest poets of our soil. If the government doesn't take steps to initiate process for naming the medical college after Bhima Bhoi, people of Balangir and Sonepur will hit the street," he said.

Satapathy said: "We have also decided to launch a postcard campaign to draw the government's attention."