Odisha Govt Sets Up Help Desk To Facilitate Safe Return Of KIIT Nepali Students

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has set up a 24*7 help desk to facilitate safe return of Nepalese students, who left KIIT-Bhubaneswar campus after the recent fiasco, and ensure their security.

The Higher Education Department has released four phone numbers (0674-2396550, 0674-2323401, 0674-2323402, 0674-2323403) and one WhatsApp number (9124620605) to provide support and guidance to the affected students.

“The help desk will start functioning with immediate effect. The help desk will also reach out to students and facilitate their early return or any other issue relating to their personal well-being. All affected students and parents are requested to reach out to the help desk for early return to the Institution for their academic pursuit,” the official notification issued on Wednesday night said.

Director, Higher Education, Prasanna Mohapatra, is the Nodal Officer of the help desk and he will be assisted by Deputy Director Dr. Rajata Manasingh. It will be manned with 9 personnels, who will attend the assignment round the clock, it said.

The notification added that the Department has taken serious note of the recent unfortunate incident at the private institute, concerning the tragic death of a student and subsequent actions by the institution.

NEPAL SEEKS ACTION

Meanwhile, Nepal Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba in a telephonic conversation with Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj, urged him for a fair investigation into the death of Prakriti Lamsal, who allegedly died by suicide on Februiary 16 evening, as well as a safe environment for Nepali students in colleges here. “He informed me that the state of Odisha has taken this incident seriously and a high-level probe committee has been formed to ensure justice for Prakriti and take action against the culprits. He also informed that a separate hotline has been arranged for Nepali students and their parents to get necessary advice and arrangements have been made for Nepali students who have gone home to return to their hostels for further studies,” she posted on X.

The Nepal Minister further stated that Suraj informed her about dismissal and legal action against employees, who misbehaved with the students. “Minister Suraj said that the important relations with Nepal will be maintained as harmoniously as they are now in the coming days. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi are working with the necessary coordination in contact with the university administration and Indian security officials,” she added. 

On February 16, the third-year BTech student from the Himalayan country was found dead in her hostel room. Her death triggered massive protests on the campus, leading to a controversy after the institution allegedly cracked down on the agitating students, demanding justice for her, and evicted them from the hostel without making any travel arrangements, prompting the Nepal’s Prime Minister to intervene. following

The Nepali students alleged that she was harassed by her fellow student and the college didn’t act despite multiple complaints.

An accused student, identified by police as Advik Srivastava, was arrested on February 17 and sent to judicial custody on the same day.