BHUBANESWAR:The Ramadevi Mahila Mahavidyalaya here was on Thursday formally accorded the status of Women’s University by the State Government with the Higher Education department issuing a notification in this regard.
The Women’s College will now be known as Ramadevi Women’s University, the first of its kind in the State, said Minister of State for Higher Education Pradeep Panigrahi.
Panigrahi said the department issued the notification after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik formally approved the proposal. All 47 women’s colleges under Utkal University would come under the jurisdiction of the newly created university, Panigrahi said adding, a notification has also been issued for upgradation of Khalikote College to a cluster university. The new cluster university will be known as Khalikote University, the Minister said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed officials to issue notification for upgradation of Rama Devi Autonomous Women’s College, Bhubaneswar and Khallikote Autonomous College, Berhampur to universities. Official sources said the universities will be operational from this academic year.
The State Government has provided Rs 55 crore for infrastructure development of Rama Devi College. Besides, 25 acres of unutilised land belonging to the Utkal University will be provided to the new university.
The Women’s University will get campus of its own later. According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the university will be accorded an affiliating university status.
Khallikote Autonomous College will be renamed as Khallikote University and will be accorded Cluster University status, a press release from the CMO said. The Khallikote Autonomous College, Binayak Acharya College in Berhampur, Gopalpur College and Chhatrapur Government Science College will come under the new university.
The State Government has also initiated steps for conversion of Gangadhar Meher Autonomous College in Sambalpur into a university. A proposal in this regard has been submitted to the Centre by the State Government.