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This document should not be used for other purpose without the written consent of the above signatories.
To
Dr. Manmohan Singh, honourable Prime Minister of India

cc
Smt. Pratibha Patil, honourable President of India
Smt. Sonia Gandhi, honourable UPA chairperson
Mr. L. K. Advani, honourable leader of opposition
Mr. Kapil Sibal, honourable union minister of Human Resource Development
Mr. Naveen Patnaik, honourable Chief Minister of Orissa
Members of Parliemant from Orissa

Dear honourable Prime Minister, Dr. Singh,

We would like to draw your kind attention towards the negligence caused to ‘Western Orissa’ -- also
known as “Dakhin Koshal” or “Koshal region” -- by Orissa state Government in financial,
infrastructural, social and higher educational sectors. In fact, many well known leaders who have
visited this region such as former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi, Chandra Sekhar, Narasimha Rao and
A B Vajpayee, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, leader of opposition L. K. Advani and congress party
general secretary Rahul Gandhi have declared that the problem in Western Orissa or Koshal region
crops up due to the continuous negligence of the Orissa Government.

As per recent census, population of costal bordering Orissa (CBO) from Balasore to Ganjam is 1.96
times higher than that of Koshal region, whereas geographical area of CBO is 1.36 times smaller than
that of Koshal region. Literacy rate of Koshal region is 4.8 % lower than that of average of Orissa state
and 11.5 % lower than that of CBO. This means Koshal region needs two times higher investment in
roads and infrastructure and 12 % higher investment in education, which may be around 10 -20 % of
the state budget as additional funds. Total budget for the state Government of Orissa in the current
financial year 2009-10 was estimated as Rs. 35,000 crore whereas budget allotted to Western Orissa
Development Council is 80 crore (0.23%). Unfortunately such budget is always fixed without
considering inflation and volume of the state budget. With this propositon of token amount the
difference will widen every year and can not be minimized.

More to it, the qualitative assessment based on map gives CBO an advantage over Koshal region in
length of state highways per every 1000 km in Orissa. Unlike many other states almost all the
proposed central Government sponsored major national institutions or hospitals are being established
in CBO and other region, particularly in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region and none of them was
established in Koshal region (see link in Appendix 1). Ever since early sixties, number of higher
educational facilities in Koshal region have been practically frozen unlike in the coastal area, and
more particularly in Bhubaneswar-Puri-Cuttack region.

While Koshal region has seen rapid industrialization, there is no corresponding and matching human
resource growth. Consequently, one of the important objectives, that is, employment opportunities for
the people of Koshal region have not been properly fulfilled. While local inhabitants have access to
low paying jobs, primarily as mazdoors and clerks; most jobs requiring technical skills have gone to
outsiders, especially in the private sector industries. Due to the social inequality Maoism is spreading
and gaining ground in the region.

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This document should not be used for other purpose without the written consent of the above signatories.
There has been continuous demand in this region to establish fully central Government higher
educational institution in the region. However, the way Orissa Government betrayed the interest of
Kalahandi to establish a Central University and ignored Sambalpur/Rourkela for an IIT has been
most unfortunate incident for the people of Koshal region in the few past years.

For educational development of Koshal region we urge you to stop continuing to neglect and establish
the following educational institution in the region.

(1) National University: Bhubaneswar is already having or is proposed to have NISER, IIT, AIIMS
etc which are of the same stature of national university, apart from railway medical college and many
national level research institutions. Among 14 states selected for National University, Bhubaneswar is
the only location where the state Govt. is proposing IIT, NISER (similar to IISER/IISc) and National
University are coming in one place which is blatant violation in words and spirit of Directive Principle
of State Policy of Constitution of India. So keeping the Constitution of India and steps of other states
such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, Rajasthan, UP etc in view National
University proposed in Orissa by MHRD should also go to a city other than state capital. In fact as per
Yash Pal committee, all the proposed IIT should be like National University, so there is no point
keeping two national universities in one location, rather the National University should be established
in Western Orissa or Koshal region. Kalahandi has lost the opportunity to get a central University
earlier. Local people, students, youths, intelligentsia, KSNM and KSVP have been demanding a
central /national University in Kalahandi since 1988 and the Chief Minister of Orissa did an injustice
to all such effort by not keeping his promise to establish Central University at Kalahandi at last
moment, people are more displeased and frustrated over this development and are continuing their
struggle. This should be compensated by the State Government by proposing Central Govt. to
establish the National University in Kalahandi or Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region where a
second airport is being proposed. Let the site selection committee of Central Government take a call
on whether to choose Kalahandi or Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda region for establishing such institute.
Let there be no political gimmick like last time when the State Govt. proposed three sites near
Bhubaneswar for establishing IIT completely forgetting his promise to establish IIT at Burla-
Sambalpur region on the eve of election. Let there be no violation of Indian Constitution and let the
Govt. take steps keeping common peoples requirement and demand in mind.

(2) IIM: Both Sambalpur and Berhampur were considered as regional centers along with
Bhubaneswar/Cuttack region. There are already many national institutions coming around
Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region, whereas there was a single proposal for IIIT in Berhampur and
Sambalpur-Burla has not got any national institution so far and has only suffered from blind
industrialization, unsustainable mining and environmental degradation. From social, infrastructural
and industrial point of view, being industrial hub Burla-Sambalpur-Jharsuguda (BSJ) region would
serve as a second knowledge center in Orissa. It has all the required infrastructure. So we urge you to
establish a new IIM in BSJ region, convert VSS medical college to AIIMS-type institution and VSS
University of Technology to IIEST and National Institute of Design in this region.

(3) Medical College: In the entire Koshal region there is only one medical college in Burla, which is
about to be downgraded due to the lack of adequate number of professors as well as other
requirements. Recently Orissa government has taken away entire neurology department from this
college to be instituted in one of the medical colleges in coastal area in the state. Intervention from the
center is required in this matter. Secondary and tertiary medical facilitates in the Koshal region is
worst affected since decades which is well documented from the recent death from diarrhea in
Kalahandi district. Unlike costal Orissa the distance between medical college at Burla and interior

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Koshal such as Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sundegarh, Boudh, Padampur etc is very large and patients need
to travel long distance before getting adequate treatment. Therefore, Orissa state Govt. and Central
Govt. should make sure to establish either state or central Govt. run medical colleges in Kalahandi,
Balangir and Sundergarh. Most suitable location of ESIC medical college is Rourkela, the third most
populous city in Orissa, because fifty percent of the insured come from the region. Hopefully, ESIC
medical college is established at Rourkela of Sundergarh district and initiative should be taken for
fully Govt. medical colleges in Kalahandi and Balangir either through Central University of Orissa
or state Government.

(4) Vedanta University: Industrial houses like Vedanta is depleting mineral resources in Koshal
region and establishing processing plants, but they are encouraged by the state government to establish
higher educational facilities in Puri. It’s not at all fair, especially because people in Puri region can
access to all kinds of higher education due to higher concentration educational resources at a stone' s
throw. Vedanta is mining and destroying the environment in Lanjigarh. Large numbers of poor and
tribal people are affected by the Vedanta industrialization in Kalahandi and Jharsuguda. There is also
opposition to the proposed Vedanta University in Puri, therefore, for the benefits of a backward place
Vedanta University should be established in Kalahandi and it should open another branch in
Jharsuguda.

(5) General University: Recently state and central Govt. have established many Universities in the
state; however, unfortunately Koshal region is totally neglected. New general state Universities are
urgently required in Kalahandi, Balangir and Sundergarh. Demand for Universities in Kalahandi and
Balangir is long standing. There are opportunities which the state Government is not utilizing due to
its negligence towards the Koshal region such as, Vedanta Alumina Limited (VAL) in Lanjigarh could
provide financial support to the state Govt. to establish Vedanta Kalahandi University (a state Govt.
institution) through local development program in Kalahandi district. Orissa state Govt. should take
such initiative in this regard. Similarly, central Government should come up with a road map to make
Central University of Orissa at Koraput to be KBK centric by establishing two more branches of it in
Kalahandi and Balangir.

(6) Polytechnic College: Barring University College of Engineering at Burla (now declared to be a
university after a long struggle, but not adequately funded) and NIT in Rourkela, Koshal region does
not have any significant number of trade schools and polytechnics which can provide appropriate
skills to fill the skilled jobs. Ordinary and regular colleges do not provide occupation-based relevant
skills. So in addition to University and medical colleges, Koshal region needs lots of polytechnics and
institutions like North American style Community Colleges. Due to recent industrial growth in the
region, state or central Govt. polytechnic colleges should be established in Boudh, Nuapada, Sonepur,
Bargarh, Deogarh and Athamallik and each block of Koshal region should have an ITI.

(7) IT Park: State Govt. has already established IT parks in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Berhampur and
planning to establish another one in Balasore. Sambalpur is fourth largest city and BSJ region has
greater potential to evolve as second knowledge center in the state. Nothing has been done in this
regard; it is high time such IT park is also established in BSJ region.

(8) Steel Institute: Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Sundergarh region is known for steel production in
Orissa but Biju Pattanaik National Steel Institute (BPNSI) was established in Puri due to step motherly
treatment towards the region. A steel institute as par with BPNSI should be established in Rourkela or
Sundergarh district

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This document should not be used for other purpose without the written consent of the above signatories.
(9) Textile Park & Agriculture University: Agriculture is backbone for KBK region and Kalahandi
is centrally located among KBK districts. Therfore, an Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University
should be estblished in Kalahandi. Similarly, for cotton production Kalahandi tops in Orissa along
with Balangir and Rayagada districts. However, instead of establishing textile park in Kalahandi,
Orissa Govt. is encouraging textile park in Berhampur. Government should immediately establish a
textile and cotton processing park in Kalahandi so that local economy of backward Kalahandi,
Balangir, Rayagada etc region gets benefited.

(10) KBK politics: State Government always make large noise towards development of KBK region
but any central Government proposal or issue like KBK head quarter comes at the state Government
level both Kalahandi and Balangir are always sidelined while locating such establishment.

We hope you along with the state Government will take urgent and necessary steps accordingly for the
above cited issues.

Thank you and best regards

Members of Koshal Discussion and Development Forum (KDDF) & well wishers

[Note: KDDF is forum of global people interested in development of Koshal region of Orissa, in other
words Western Orissa. Historical significance of Koshal is much broader than the term associated with
separate state movement. KDDF is a non-political and non-separatist organization interested in
bringing development to Western Orissa and simultaneously popularize significance of Koshal among
general mass in similar spirit like for Utkala or Kalinga is done and it does not associate with separate
state movement rather encourage people to be proud for their Koshal historical route.]

Appendix 1
http://www.kosal.org/wp-content/uploads/Central-funded-Institutions-for-higher-studies-and-
research1.pdf
http://www.kosal.org/wp-content/uploads/State-funded-Institutions-for-higher-learning1.pdf
http://www.kosal.org/wp-content/uploads/Private-Universities-Institutions1.pdf

Signature collected through online petition from KDDF members & well wishers:

http://www.petitiononline.com/HE1KSL/petition.html

1. Dr Manoj Kumar Mahapatra

2. Dr. Sanjib K Karmee, Delft, The Netherlands
3. Panakj Kumar Patra
4. Sandeep Sethi
5. Dr. Ajit Kumar Patra, University of Konstanz, Germany
6. Saket Sreebhushan Sahu
7. DILLIP KUMAR BISHI
8. Himansu Sekhar Panigrahi
9. Preakash Kumar Sahoo
10. Raja
11. Ajita

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12. Paritosh Mahana
13. Satyajit Nayak
14. Tanmay Kumar Meher
15. SAPAN MISHRA
16. Gaurab Sarangi
17. supratik mishra
18. Dr. Digambara Patra, Beirut, Lebanon
19. Apurba Meher
20. debashish mohanta
21. Arun Nayak
22. Raj Kishor Kampa
23. Mallikarjun Dora
24. MANOJ KUMAR NANDA
25. Tushar Sahu
26. REENA
27. Madhusmita Panda, Beirut, Lebanon
28. Benudhar Punji
29. Sameer Panda
30. MANASENDU NAYAK
31. Rajesh Kumar Pattnaik
32. Anand Sagar Dash
33. Mrs Bhaswati Dash
34. Surendra Kumar Hota
35. lohitashree dash
36. Ashutosh Dash
37. satish kumar sahu
38. Sumeet Pradhan
39. Prem Nepak
40. Bhabani
41. Dr. Ananda Hota, Taipei, Taiwan.
42. Rajendra Meher
43. Birat Raja Padhan
44. Gangadhar Purohit
45. Sadanand Badhei
46. Shefali Pradhan
47. Sharmila Rani Pradhan
48. Abinash Kumar
49. Indrani
50. Subrat Mahana
51. Ajaya Purohit
52. Akash Pradhan
53. Dharmananda Dehury
54. Dhiraj Pandey
55. Pankaj Kumar
56. Abinas Dash, Titlagarh / Mumbai
57. Sandeep Patel, Animator, Bangalore
58. Abhishek Kar
59. Biswajit Pradhan
60. RITWIK

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61. Rina Meher
62. Bidyadhar Sahu
63. Amiya Mahapatra
64. Devendra Dash
65. Manoj Kumar Dora
66. MAUSAM PADHI
67. Ashok Dansana
68. Ashok Dansana
69. DEEPAK SHARMA
70. Smitiparna Satpathy
71. Omkar Joshi
72. TAPAS KUMAR NAYAK
73. Prem Sagar Dash
74. jennifer irrgang
75. Dr. Arjun Purohit Ph.D.,Canada
76. PraKash Kumar Meher
77. Jogesh Pradhan
78. Preetinanda Manaswini Dash, Burla
79. Anuradha Mohapatra, Jharsuguda
80. saroj kanta jena
81. sujit patel
82. Pramod Kumar Meher
83. Ganesh Chandra Padhi
84. Harleen Sahu
85. Prasanta Kumar Meher
86. Subhendu Kumar Mohanty
87. lingaraj patra
88. Priya
89. Ranajit Mohanty
90. Shiben Chouhan
91. Somnath Dutta
92. kranti prakash sai
93. pitambar
94. Devasish Nayak
95. SRIKANTA PANDA
96. Ramesh Chandra Pradhan
97. Suraj Ranjan Khamari
98. Raghab Mohanty
99. Anshuman Mishra
100. Mana Ranjan Sahu
101. Manas Ranjan Sahu
102. Daipayan
103. Aryabartta Sahu
104. srikant gouda
105. Rajendra
106. Prafulla Sahoo
107. Kandarp Baghar

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This document should not be used for other purpose without the written consent of the above signatories.