Odisha inaugurates 14 new Govt Degree Colleges in remote districts

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards enhancing higher education access in Odisha, 14 new government degree colleges were inaugurated across eight districts on Friday.

The inauguration was led by the state’s Higher Education Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, who officially opened the colleges via video conferencing.

The newly established colleges are located in some of Odisha’s most remote and underserved regions, with the aim of bringing higher education closer to students who previously had limited access. The specific locations of these colleges include Tiring in Mayurbhanj district; Thuamul Rampur in Kalahandi district; Gurundia and Nuagaon in Sundargarh district; Bandhugaon and Narayanpatna in Koraput district; Jharigaon, Kosagumuda, Raighar, and Tentulikhunti in Nabarangpur district; Kashipur and Ramanaguda in Rayagada district; Dharakote in Ganjam district; and Khajuripada in Kandhamal district.

During the virtual inauguration, Minister Suraj emphasized the transformative power of education, stating, “Education is the only medium through which the youth can empower themselves and usher change in society. These new 14 government degree colleges in the remote areas will revolutionize education.”

The Minister also highlighted that the establishment of these colleges would not only spark interest in higher education among local students but would also significantly reduce the dropout rates in these areas. He extended his best wishes to the principals, students, government officers, and people’s representatives associated with the new institutions.

Arvind Agarwal, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department, echoed the Minister’s sentiments, expressing optimism about the future of education in these remote regions. “With the establishment of degree colleges in 14 blocks of 8 districts, education has reached the students living in the remote regions of Odisha. I congratulate the students and advise them to work hard to build a bright future,” Agarwal stated.

The virtual event also saw participation from Bonai MLA Laxman Munda and Lakhmipur MLA Pabitra Saunta, who both praised the initiative as a revolutionary step in the field of education.