OPECA pleads for help from Naveen

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, April 24: Odisha Private Engineering College Association (OPECA) has requested Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take necessary steps for survival of Technical education in the state of Odisha.In a five-page letter written to Patnaik on Wednesday, OPECA honorary secretary Binod Dash has submitted that they were an Association of all unaided self financed Engineering, MCA & MBA Colleges in Odisha. “Since last 6 years we are running from pillar to post trying at all level to present our views & make everybody realize the situation of Technical education in the state, but we have only got assurance and not much difference was visible in the situation of Technical education.So, with last hope, we would like to present before you certain facts about the present technical education Scenario in the state,” Dash said in his addressed to the Chief Minister.At present there are 98 Degree Engineering colleges in the State, which includes 8 government Engineering Colleges and 90 self-financed engineering colleges with total intake capacity of 48687.Besides, there are two deemed universities with intake capacity of 5000 approximately and one State private university with intake capacity of 1000 approximately.So, total intake capacity is 54687 apart from IIT, NIT & IIIT, Bhubaneswar, he pointed out.More than Rs.5,000 crore has been invested in the technical colleges within the State, wherein more than 50,000 people are directly employed and around 2 lakh people are indirectly employed, he added.Stating that technical education is facing an alarming situation at present, Das said that the vacancy position has increased to 60%.This situation started from 2009 with 30% vacancy, he added.OPECA prayed Patnaik to make amendments in the Odisha Professional Educational Institution Act, 2007 for the survival of technical education in the State.OPECA’s Prayers: a) Request for 50% seats to be filled up by Odisha State candidatesb) Request to enhance outside State quota from 15% to 40% (to be filled up from JEE (Main) qualified candidatesc) Request for all vacant seats to be handed over to colleges after second round counseling to be filled up though college level counsellingd) Request for 10% NRI seats to be filled up though college level counsellingFurther, since admission process for 2015 is fast approaching, OPECA requested the Chief Minister to amend the Act immediately or bring an ordinance on the mention points or submit an affidavit before the Supreme Court immediately.“This step will cause no harm to the State, rather technical education in the State will be able to revive itself,” Dash submitted.“Sir, you are our last hope, so, we request your kind intervention and consider our appeal seriously to save the State of Odisha from losing its mark from the map of technical education in the country,” pleaded Dash in the letter.