Jyotivihar: Problems galore

Talks of plagiarism, nepotism in appointment, and a controversial decision to close down the 22 yearold Department of Computer Science - it seems all is not well in Sambalpur University.

Set up in 1967, Jyotivihar is shrouded in controversies.It is alleged that too much emphasis on Sambalpur University Institute of Information Technology (SUIIT) cost the Department of Computer Science dear. A UGC sponsored department had to be shut down. SUIIT itself is under scrutiny.

The land on which Rs  22 lakh had already been spent for developing into stadium was diverted for SUIIT and two hostels were earmarked for its students.

Controversy over its nomenclature continued. So much thrust was laid on SUIIT that other subjects suffered miserably and large number of seats remained vacant in the PG departments.

While situation has improved and the response to PG courses is satisfactory at present, it is a big zero in terms of placements.

The much-hyped biotechnology park, inaugurated by then President APJ Abdul Kalam in 2004, has turned into a piece of barren land.

 It was constructed at a cost of Rs 15 lakh over five acres of land for enabling higher research on herbal plants.

The large number of vacancies in almost all faculties is having a toll on education.  Sixteen posts of Professor out of a sanctioned 26, 19 posts of Reader against 46 and 20 Lecturer posts out of 80 are lying vacant.

Similar is the condition of non-teaching posts. A whopping 210 posts are vacant against the sanctioned 600. Conditions of the hostels and library are no better.

Girl hostels do not have sufficient rooms, while boys do not have permanent water supply.

Although tall claims were made about launching of egovernance and lakhs spent, it is yet to be made fully functional. The library is yet to be digitalised.

There is not reading room worth its name, access to journals and books only exists in pen and paper. There are many departments - Performing Arts, Diploma in Sambalpuri Studies, Hindi - running without a building.

General secretary of the students union, Dileswar Nial, said the course curriculum continues to be outdated which is distancing students from PG courses as it is no more relevant or in demand.

Books from the library are issued to students while no journal has been subscribed for last five years.

Contacted, Sukhdev Naik officiating for Vice-Chancellor Prof B C Barik away on leave, said interview to fill up vacant posts of Professor, Reader and Lecturer is underway.

Steps are also being taken to develop the infrastructure and other problems of the hostels, he said.