Bhubaneswar, Oct 9: The rural campus of Utkal University at Chandikhole in Jajpur district has been struggling for existence four years after inauguration.
Out of the four self-financing courses were being taught in the rural campus, three – MBA in Rural Management, Master in Public Health and Master in Social Works - have been shifted to the main campus in Bhubaneswar and BSc nursing has been cancelled.
Students allege that they are being sidelined in the main campus due to lack of faculties.
The Odisha government had sanctioned Rs 14 crore last year to complete the construction of administrative and academic buildings along with hostels. Earlier, the government had released Rs 7.5 crore in this record. But the infrastructure works are yet to be completed.
Notably, the state government had demarcated 66.3 acres of land at Siha village under Barachana block in Jajpur district for the rural campus. Possession of the land took some time due to land dispute and the foundation stone was laid on July 31 in 2017.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had inaugurated the temporary campus inside the premises of Baba Bhairabananda College at Chandikhole as the construction of the permanent campus was underway.
