Sambalpur, Aug. 11: Local residents, under the aegis of the Progressive Sambalpur, today staged a dharna outside the Gangadhar Meher University to protest against vacancies and poor infrastructure at the institute.

Students, alumni members, along with several social activists, took part in the agitation.

"The institute has been declared as a varsity. Still, it has been facing problems in delivering quality education. There is an acute shortage of both teaching and non-teaching staff, the prerequisite of an educational institution to meet its targeted ends," said Progressive Sambalpur adviser Dilip Panda, who is a doctor.

At present, the varsity has only 63 faculty members, including 15 ad hoc teachers, against the required strength of 118.

"The varsity also lacks basic infrastructure. The students face severe problems due to the shortage of classrooms. Besides, the hostels are also in disastrous condition," said Gangadhar Meher University Students' Union president Milan Hota.

"We want the government to fill up the vacant posts. The academic space should be expanded. Otherwise, the varsity status is meaningless," said convener of the social organisation, Sanjit Mohanty.

"There is also an immediate need for an interface between industries and the institute for the placement of the students," said Sanjit. "If suitable steps are not taken to resolve the problem, we will be forced to intensify the agitation," he added.

The varsity students also staged a street play, Swabhiman, depicting the ailing condition of the premier institution. The agitators have also submitted a memorandum to the chief minister through the varsity authority, demanding resolution their problems.

The university registrar, Smita Devi, talked to the agitators. She said that she would forward the memorandum to the appropriate forum.

She told them: "The principal secretary of the higher education department had visited the institute last week and had assured that the vacant teaching posts would be filled within two to three months.

He has also approved the several infrastructure development plans and asked us to submit a proposal regarding it. We have already sent the proposal today. We hope that the vacant teaching and non-teaching posts would be filled up soon."