The Congress on Thursday staged a demonstration in front of the ADM office here, demanding upgradation of Government Autonomous College, Rourkela (GACR) to a university and establishment of a Tribal University in Sundargarh district.
Former MLA George Tirkey led the demonstration. Later, a team led by Tirkey submitted a memorandum, addressed to the Chief Minister, to the ADM. The State Government has recommended a list of seven colleges for upgradation to to university. But unfortunately, the name of GACR doesn’t figure in the list. The college deserves to be a university as it has adequate land, infrastructure, PG in 17 streams, MPhil in 3 streams and students intake capacity of 5,000.
Sundargarh is a mineral-rich and tribal-dominated district. While both the State and Union Governments are getting huge amounts of revenue form the district, it is very disappointing that they always neglected the district in education and other sector.
“If a Tribal University is established, education, economic, social and cultural standards of tribals will be enhanced,” claimed the party.
Tirky threatened that the party would intensify the agitation if the two demands are not met soon.
Among others, former DCC president Biren Senapati, senior leaders Debabrata Bihari, Prabhati Mishra and Kailash Sahoo, youth leaders Prasant Sethy and Rohit Joseph Tirkey, Mahila leader Nirupama Baliarsingh and Seva Dal leader Vinod Rout and students from different colleges were present.
