Twelve long years after stopping the practice of awarding gold medalists, the Berhampur University has planned to award gold medals to toppers of 21 post-graduate departments, the best graduate student in the Arts, Science and Commerce streams. The ever-increasing gold prices had prompted the university to discontinue the practice since 2002.
The system would be made viable by reducing the quantity of gold in medals from six grams to four grams, according to Vice-Chancellor Prof Deepak Kumar Behera. The proposal would be placed for approval before the Syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university, on Saturday. After the Syndicate’s approval, the practice would be reintroduced from the next convocation, the VC is reported to have stated. The university has decided to write to contributors for an increase in donations to make the gold medals.
The medals are sponsored by individuals and organisations in memory of their dear ones with the contributions ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 2 lakh.