When it comes to Utkal University, it has always been high on rhetoric and short on action. The varsity authorities remain non-committal towards the long-standing demand of the students for an IAS coaching centre even today.
In fact, the PG Council of the University had decided to take a final call to start IAS coaching from the ensuing academic session at the PG Council meeting in July last. The officials had apparently agreed to the demand. However, the proposal has been restricted to the official files since then.
With hundreds of students from the varsity appearing for the Civil Services examination every year, setting up of a coaching centre in the varsity has become a dire necessity. Several representations had earlier been made to the Vice-Chancellor.
The University authorities claimed there aren’t enough staff or infrastructure for the purpose. They added a proposal was sent to 10 reputed IAS coaching centres to tie up with the varsity for the purpose, but none expressed interest. This apart, the arrangement would have been costly for the students as reputed IAS coaching centres charge lakhs of rupees for admission.
Following this, the students union had recently requested the University administration to start IAS coaching classes from its own resources.
A proposal was placed to introduce a six-month preparatory courses from the next session with the assistance of University faculty.
Sources said as per the proposal, professors, lecturers and readers of all the 27 PG courses would take one-hour classes in the morning by rotation. Apart from regular subjects, the teachers would also train them in soft skills, computer knowledge and GK besides group discussion.
“The PG Council had agreed to the plan, but with officials retiring or changing every six months, the proposal is yet to be implemented,” said a student.
On the other hand, PG Council Chairman PK Mishra said the varsity would be implementing all the proposed projects step by step. “We are working on the library automation project now and the IAS plan will be subsequently looked into,” he said.