The State Government has proposed to set up a Women’s University during the 12th Plan period under the Rastriya Ucchattara Sikhya Abhiyan (RUSA).
The process has already been started to shortlist the Government and Government-aided women’s colleges to recommend to the Union Human Resource Development Ministry for clearance of the proposal. The State Government would receive funds from the RUSA to boost the research and innovation in the proposed Women University.
The Ramadevi Women’s College, Bhubaneswar has the infrastructure to get the status of a university status exclusively for women. Since funds would be available under the RUSA for setting up Women’s University, the State Government is also considering providing land and other infrastructure at a suitable place for a new one without upgrading any existing one. The State Government would also provide funds to help establish the proposed university. The PPP mode is also being explored for the purpose. Very soon a detailed project proposal would be sent to the Project Approval Board under the RUSA for clearance and funding.
At present, Odisha has eight universities under the Higher Education Department — Utkal University, Berhampur University, Sambalpur University, North Odisha University, Fakir Mohan University, Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University and Ravenshaw University. Sources said that since the Central Government has proposed to set up at least 20 Women’s Universities in the country during the 12th Plan under the RUSA to facilitate entry into higher education of women even from a very traditional background and rural and suburban areas, the Odisha Government wanted to take the advantage. Besides, the State Government has also proposed to set up a College Cluster University and Community Colleges under the RUSA, for which the State has to prepare a model Act in consonance with the University Grants Commission.
Moreover, the State Government has also proposed to prepare a list of at least 20 Government and aided colleges for upgradation to Autonomous Colleges, the sources said.