CUO signs MoU for establishment of Dr Ambedkar Centre for Excellence

Koraput: The Central University of Odisha signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) along with 30 other Central Universities for the establishment of Dr. Ambedkar Centre for Excellence (DACE) in a function at Benaras Hindu University (BHU) recently.

The programme was launched by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment in the august presence of Anadiben Patel, Governor of UP, A. Narayanaswamy and Km. Pratima Bhoumik, both Minister of State of Social Justice & Empowerment; R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Dr. Vikas Trivedy, Director, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre on the stage.

Prof. Sharat Kumar Palita, Vice-Chancellor (I/c), Central University of Odisha (CUO) exchanged the MoU document with Dr. Vikas Trivedy, Director, Dr. Ambedkar Foundation of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the establishment of DACE at CUO.

The Dr. Ambedkar Centre for Excellence (DACE) aims to provide free UPSC exam coaching for Scheduled Caste (SC) students. For this purpose, the Dr Ambedkar Foundation will give ₹75 lakh to central universities every year to make sure that the centres are working efficiently and smoothly.

Each centre will have 100 seats, and the concerned candidates are expected to pass an entrance test. Out of the total admissions, 33% of the sanctioned seats will be given to students in the Scheduled Castes and eligible female students. With this launch, the government aims to achieve the social justice goal by providing inclusive opportunities. Along with VC (I/c) Dr. Palita, Registrar Dr. Asit Kumar Das, and the Controller of Examinations Dr.

Ram Shankar were also present on the occasion. Both Odisha and the District of Koraput has quite a good percentage of SC population i.e. 17.13% and 14.25% respectively as per the 2011 Census. The Vice-Chancellor (I/c) Prof. Palita expressed his happiness that once the Centre becomes functional and free coaching starts for UPSC Exams, this is certainly going to help and boost the morale of the SC students getting admitted to the Central University of Odisha.