A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat here on Monday.
An ideal centre of learning, Bakula Bana Vidyalaya was set up by the five iconic leaders Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das, Acharya Harihar Das, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Pandit Godabarisha Mishra and Pandit Krupasindhu Mishra, popularly known as ‘Pancha Sakha’.
Considering the immense fame of this institution, the state government has decided to set up the Odia University which will help in the propagation of the ideals of the Pancha Sakha.
Considering the environment and the pristine heritage of the Bakula Bana, it was decided that the proposed university will be a single-storey building and made of sandstone. Not a single tree would be felled for the construction of the building. Apart from postgraduation, students can also pursue their M.Phil studies. Besides, the university will have facilities for advanced research in Odia language and literature.
For the functioning of the University, the state government has decided to appoint an officer in special duty (OSD) very soon. The office of the proposed university will run temporarily from the Pantha Nivas at Satyabadi. The state government has earmarked Rs 10 crore for the university for the current fiscal and created a number of posts, including the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar.
The Chief Minister directed the Puri Collector Jyoti Prakash Dash to expedite the preliminary work for the proposed university.
Higher Education minister Ananta Das, chief secretary, development commissioner, Higher Education secretary, Law secretary and senior officials of the department concerned were present at the meeting.
