BARIPADA: North Orissa University (NOU) in Mayurbhanj district on Thursday conferred ‘Bhumiputra’ award on four personalities for their outstanding contributions in the field of art, culture, literature and environment on the occasion of its 20th foundation day.
They are litterateurs Gobinda Chandra Majhi and Ramesh Chandra Chakrabarty, noted music director and lyricist Saroj Patnaik and wildlife conservationist and environmentalist Dr Khageswar Nayak. Higher Education Minister Ananta Das conferred the award on them in the presence of RDC and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the University Akhila Bihari Ota and Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary to Government R Balakrishnan.Speaking on the occasion, Das said a special course on Geology has been introduced in the university as it covers two mineral-rich districts of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar. A committee, led by R Balakrishnan, will be set up to monitor the department, he added. The Minister also stressed on quality education and research in the university.
Balakrishnan suggested that a regular course on Biodiversity Conservation should be introduced to take up research work on wildlife and environment in Similipal Biosphere. Among others, Registrar Sadananda Nayak, PG Council Chairman Prof Nakulananda Mohanty and Senate Member Prof Jagannath Lenka also spoke.