Cuttack’s Shailabala College alumni protest land takeover for Chandi Mandir beautification challenge

By Express News Service

CUTTACK: The authorities’s Chandi Mandir beautification challenge has run into stiff opposition from alumni of Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College over plans for takeover of the establishment’s playground.

The Old Students’ Association of the faculty has shot off a letter to the Chief Minister, requesting him to stop the acquisition of the playground which has helped to supply many state and nationwide degree gamers in soccer, basketball, netball, kabbadi, kho kho and different video games.

It may even hamper future improvement of one of many oldest faculties of the State. “Reducing the land would lead to curtailing the growth and future of woman sportspersons and will also seal the fate of this august institution from ever becoming a heritage university,” the letter acknowledged. 

Several alumni members additionally gathered in entrance of Chandi Mandir on Monday night to specific their solidarity to guard the establishment from ‘irrational and deliberate’ acquisition of its land for non-educational function.  

Going by the temple improvement plan, the faculty goes to lose a significant portion of its playground unfold over 3 acre and in addition the newly constructed four-storey hostel constructing beneath the 5T initiative.  Further, the Culture division is laying its declare on the constructing that was as soon as the residence of Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das and in addition the foremost portion of the frontal space together with the principle gate. 

“The institution was established in 1913 to educate and empower women at a time when they were totally subjugated, crushed and quelled. Both the lands are gifts from Shailabala Das, daughter of Madhu Babu, for expansion of the college. In fact, every inch of the land in Arts and Science block are gifted for enhancing women’s education. A breach here would mean dishonouring and betraying the will of the donor and violating the Gift Deed,” learn the letter. 

“Reducing the playground land will lead to curtailing the growth and future of women sportspersons not only of Odisha but also of the entire country. The move of the State government will also seal the fate of the august institution from ever becoming a heritage university- a status that it deserves for the symbol of revolution that took place years ago. Besides, the move will also deny its eligibility to even qualify for assessment of NAAC accreditation which insists upon fitness for students with indoor and outdoor games and sports activities including gymnasium and sports hostel,” it added. 

Being the primary ladies’s school of the State and third within the nation, it shouldn’t be subjected to such shame that may replicate on the State authorities itself, mentioned affiliation President Gopa Das, a retired principal of SCS College, Puri.

Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani mentioned the proposal for handing over Madhu Babu’s residence to Culture division has been postponed. Only 465 decimal of land can be taken to facilitate a street to the shrine and the federal government will construct a indoor sports activities complicated for the faculty, he mentioned.