The Ukal University of Culture has a total of 29 sanctioned teaching posts and, of them, 15 posts are now lying vacant.
Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda informed this in the State Assembly in response to a question of Congress MlA Nab Kishore Das on Saturday.
The Minister informed that the University had initially 19 sanctioned teaching posts and later 10 posts were created against requirement of 15 more posts. While teachers are in position in 10 regular posts, applications have been received through advertisements. Steps are on to fill up the vacant posts, he said.
Panda further informed that applications have not been invited for teaching posts in three departments as cases against the posts are sub-judice in the High Court.
After appointment of required number of teachers, the University Grant Commission would be requested to provide funds, he said.
Regarding nonteaching posts, the Minister said the University has a total of 50 such posts and it is stipulated that 20 posts to be filled up through deputation and the rest as regular ones. Among deputation posts, Registrar, Controller of Examinations and Controller of Finance posts have been filled up and the rest 17 posts have been filled up by temporary employees as staffs for deputation were not available.
Similarly, out of 25 regular nonteaching posts, five are in position and steps are on to make recruitment to the rest 25 posts.
The Minister said a committee has been formed to introduce Trabal education in the PG Course in the university. Plans are also afoot to introduce research programmes on Odisha’s special arts, pattachitra and Sambalpuri cloth-art.
Out of 384 seats in different PG departments, only 124 students have taken admissions into the First Semester this year, the Minister informed. Only one student has been admitted in each of Sitar, Flute and Drama departments whose seat strengths are 16, 16 and 24, respectively.
Similarly, in MPhill courses, 30 out of 59 seats are lying vacant, he Minster said.
Courses imparted as MPA classes are Odissi Dance, Odissi Vocal, Mardal, Chhow Dance, Tabla, Hindustani Vocal, H Violin, Sitar, Flute and Drama and as General Studies are CHC, Culture Studies and linguistics. Similarly, subjects like Applied Art and Design, Printmaking, Painting, Sculpture and Art History are introduced as MVA courses.
The University imparts MPhill courses in Odissi, Odissi Vocal, Hindustani Vocal, Instrumental Music (Table, Mardala, Violin, flue, Sitar), Drama, Painting and Applied Art and Design subjects.