Sambalpur: The yearlong platinum jubilee celebrations of the Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) began here on Saturday.
Odisha minister for finance and excise Sashi Bhushan Behera inaugurated the programme in presence of government chief whip Rohit Pujari and Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi.
Behera stressed on the need for more research work and study to make the university a place of academic excellence . "It is unfortunate that our university has not yet been ranked at the national level. We should concentrate on academic development to earn good reputation," he said. The finance minister said the state government had sanctioned funds for the establishment of a chair in the name of poet Bhima Bhoi in the university.
The demand for establishment of chairs in the name of poet Gangadhar Meher, legendary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai, who fought against the British much before the freedom movement, and veteran social worker Parvati Giri was justified and government will cooperate on the issue, he further said.
Recalling the poems of Gangadhar Meher, the minister said his contribution in the field of literature helped Odia language and the state get recognition at the national level. The state government has sanctioned the appointment of 144 teaching and 120 non-teaching posts for the university and allotted 47.5 acres on the other side of Mahanadi for its second campus. The Rashtriya Uchchatara Shiksha Abhiyan has sanctioned Rs 27.50 crore to the university for its infrastructure development. Vice-chancellor of Sambalpur university Deepak Behera was the chief speaker at the programme.
Presiding over the function, vice-chancellor of Gangadhar Meher University Atanu Kumar Pati assured that the university would be one of the best centres of learning of the country. Efforts were on for its all round development and to maintain heritage building and the old campus, he said.
During the celebrations, university anthem, university's new logo, flag, platinum jubilee logo and special first day postal cover were inaugurated. The university campus was named as Amruta Vihar.
