A four-member team of the University Grant Commission (UGC) led by Prof Sabyasachi Basu Roychoudhury visited the Gangadhar Meher (Autonomous) College on Monday to review its status for continuance of the autonomous status. Regional Director of Higher Education Prof PK Mahapatra as the State nominee and university nominee Prof RS Nanda are with the team. The college, established before independence in 1944, was accorded autonomous status in 1991. The autonomy status has been renewed for four times.
The college is passing through a number of problems, staff crunch being the major one. In such circumstances, doubts have been raised over its autonomy status. “Now, the fate of autonomous status depends on the recommendations of the UGC team that is vividly verifying the condition of the college,” reliable sources said. The team is mainly verifying the staff position, infrastructure availability, library, hostel, student strength, laboratory and other aspects including study atmosphere as regards to quality education in an autonomous college.
The team interacted with the teaching and nonteaching staff and students to have firsthand knowledge. They visited different departments and also asked the examination department about the conduct of examinations and storage of question papers. It is learnt that they are almost satisfied with the teaching pattern after visiting few classes in the Geography, Botany and other departments. “Except staff crunch, rest other things are quite well in the college,” claim students. Hence, we are hopeful of renewal of the autonomy status for a next term of five years,” said Siddhanta Mohanty, a former president of the College Students’ Uunion.