Orissa unit of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has sought radical changes in the state'sacademic policy, particularly in the field of higher education. Resolutions passed at the three-day conference held at Kendrapara, demanded more private-public participation in higher education followed by some other proposals like introduction of innovative education policy, increase in budget amount for education, introduction of industry oriented technical education, reduction in examination fees for intermediate classes, periodical evaluatation of performance of teachers and immediate posting of permanent Principals in the Government-run colleges in the state.
The conference was inaugurated by international chief of Kriya Yoga, Paramahamsa Swami Prajnananda Giri and was presided over by ABVP'snational president Dr Ram Naresh Singh. Swami Prajnananda in his brief but thought provoking speech recalled his student life, particularly when he was closely attached with RSS and ABVP. He advised the delegates that bold and self-confident students can make the nation prosperous. ?Always be sincere in your studies, digest your lessons well that will boost your confidence and will improve your inner strength,? he said.
Prof. Siba Prasad Padhy, state president of ABVP, while criticising the heterogeneous syllabus of different Universities and Autonomous Colleges in the state said: ?Due to differentiation of syllabus, the students face lot of problems while migrating from one University to other. Hence, a uniform academic system should be introduced in the state. Now in 11th Five Years Plan, the Central Government is about to increase the academic expenses three times and hence the state budget for education should be increased in the coming budget session of the state Legislative Assembly.?
Shri Bishnu Das, Kshetra Sangathan Mantri, in his presentation on the topic of self-reliant Orissa said that as an agrarian state, good irrigation facilities, technical knowledge for advanced farming, easily available bank loan and proper arrangement of marketing of farm products should be maid available to the farmers. In other states there are cold store facilities available at the Gram Panchayat level, but in Orissa such facilities have not reached even at the block level. Our state government has failed to utilise the huge minerals like 37 per cent bauxite, 25 per cent coal, 37 per cent manganese, 33 per cent iron, etc, stored beneath the soil of Orissa. The state government should not handover its mines and minerals to the foreign companies. Eco-tourism should be encouraged and Bangladeshi infiltrators must be driven out soon from the coastal areas of the state, he added.
On second day of the conference, the township witnessed a massive rally by the ABVP. A public meeting was held in the heart of the town which was attended by more than one thousand people.
State Higher Education Minister Shri Sameer Dey inaugurated the exhibition and ABVP'sstate organising secretary Shri Gopinath Sahoo delivered the concluding speech. Shri B. Surendran, national co-organising secretary, Shri Prashant Rout, state vice-president, Shri Bhuban Mohan Jena, Prof. Nanda Kishor Parida, Shri Ajit Prasad Mohapatra and Prant Pracharak of RSS were also present on the occasion.
