Naveen demands Central University in KBK region

Bhubaneswar, June 19 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to consider setting up a Central university in the tribal dominated KBK region of the state.

Expressing concern over the Centre's alleged indifferent attitude towards the long standing demand of a Central university in the thickly populated tribal areas, Mr Patnaik hoped the Prime Minister would initiate necessary steps to fulfil the demand.

He said Orissa's ''justified'' demand should be considered since the government was planning to move a bill in the near future in this regard.

Mr Patnaik said during his visit to Delhi last month, though he had discussed the matter with Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, the Centre has decided to set up a Central University at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.

Justifying the demand for Central university in KBK region, the Chief Minister said 38 per cent of the total population in Orissa belonged to Scheduled Caste (SC)and Scheduled Tribe (ST) while the ST alone accounted for 22 per cent of the total population.

Mr Patnaik said since 48 per cent of the population in Orissa remained below poverty line, a Central University would help the SC,ST and poor people to get the benefit of higher education and research bringing a qualitative improvement in their lifestyle.

UNI