Says State deserves tribal university
While responding to the warm reception given by different organisations of Rourkela on Sunday during his maiden visit to the Steel City after becoming the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram said Sundargarh is a tribal dominated district and there are many budding talents in the district, who need to be promoted.
Many hockey players of the district have established themselves worldwide. However, there are many talents who are unable to exhibit themselves due to financial crunch, said Oram, adding that he wants to create ample opportunities for the underprivileged talents to grow by establishing a hockey and women football academy at Panposh.
Oram further said Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh have long demanded for a tribal university for higher education and research among the tribals but due to apathy it has been lying in cold storage. “There is already a tribal university in Chhattisgarh. Though Odisha is the second largest tribal State and deserves a tribal university, it has long been deprived of it. This is when the previous Central Government had already set up the second tribal university in Assam. So, my thrust will be to set up the third tribal university in Odisha,” said Oram.
He said two years back, the SAIl Chairman in a meeting with the then Chief Minister had assured to upgrade the IGH to a medical college.
But so far no development in this matter has been made. If the State Government specifically gives any proposal, Oram said he would take it up with the Centre.
He also expressed his unhappiness over the decision to establish the ESIC Medical College and Hospital at Bhubaneswar. Oram said Rourkela is the deserving place for medical college. He assured that he would be with the people of Rourkela and western Odisha IPs (insured persons), and fight for their cause.
He also reiterated his stand on attaching priority to early completion of the Talcher-Bimlagarh rail line. Oram also pledged support to form a separate railway division consisting with Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda, construction of second Brahmani bridge and early completion of Bonai and Jhirpani bridge.
Oram met with the ADM, Sub-Collector and all sub divisional officials including all executive engineers of Rourkela division and Rourkela Municipality. He also reviewed different projects and implementation of schemes.