The denizens of Rourkela had demanded for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in July 2014 soon after the Union Finance Minister proposed for the institute in the State. Sachetan Nagarika Manch (SNM) had led a campaign for the top Business school. The Manch had sent representations to the Chief Minister of Odisha, the Union HRD Minister and the Prime Minister of India. It had orgainsed demonstration in front of Rourkela ADM office and observed a 12-hour Rourkela Bandh.
Similarly, Rourkela Jagaran Manch had raised the same issue with memorandum and demonstration. Another forum ‘Voice for IIM at Rourkela’ took up the issue. Besides, the prominent leaders of Congress, BJD and BJP had raised the issue. Of course, the only success was the Chief Minster had inducted Sundargarh district in second phase in the site list and instructed the Collector for identifying suitable patch of land for the proposed premier institute.
But everything came to a sudden halt when the State Government recommended three spots nearby Bhubaneswar on the basis of Centre’s guidelines. Though voice from Rourkela remained tranquil but it became more vibrant in Sambalpur. At least, the agitation for IIM at Sambalpur put the Union HRD Minister under pressure to write a letter to the Chief Minister, Odisha for his suggestion on establishing the IIM in western Odisha and especially in Sambalpur. The Chief Minster in response had recommended Sambalpur as the Centre was prepared to relax the criteria.
As a result, the hope for establishing the IIM at Sambalpur has got brighter by now despite the fact that it has left many aspirants in other towns including in Rourkela in sulks. Because Rourkela has a Central institution NIT, where the temporary classes can be commenced till the construction of permanent building of the IIM, it deserves to be the most suitable location for the institute. Besides, it has an air strip which is all set for up-gradation. Now the question is why Sambalpur was preferred over Rourkela in the long runIJ
Many attribute the failure to Rourkela not being able to keep the momentum for the IIM. Besides there was no cohesion as a host of forums came forward to fight for the cause. More pertinent was the leadership failure. Though Sundergarh has all the powerful and experienced sitting representatives compared to Sambalpur, yet they lacked cohesion on the issue and fought at their individual level. The only elected BJP MP of the State Jual Oram is from Sundargarh and he is a Cabinet Minister.
Secondly, Dilip Ray, who claims to be a close aide of the Prime Minister, is also the Rourkela MlA. Raghunathpali MlA Subrat Tarai is the second time MlA and Dilip Tirkey, a Rajya Sabha MP from Sundargarh and hockey icon, is considered as the blue eyed boy of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. In contrast, But Sambalpur MlA is a first timer of BJD. Yet, Sambalpur was chosen as its lobby was stronger. Of course, when in March last, Patnaik wrote a letter to the HRD Minister in favour of Sambalpur, he very cunningly declared the second campus of the premier management institute, Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) at Rourkela. That was the only solace for the BJD leaders. But the fact is so far no further steps have been taken for the XIMB centre at Rourkela.