OTV Impact: Panel to probe appointment of fake degree holders in vocational colleges

Bhubaneswar: Barely a couple of months after OTV carried out a reality check on the allegations of appointment of fake degree holders as lecturers in various vocational colleges in Odisha, and came across various irregularities, the State government on Tuesday constituted a three-member team to probe the matter.

The director of Vocational Education has been appointed chairman of the committee, which has been directed to submit its report within a month.

"It's a welcome step that a committee has been formed to carry out a thorough investigation and submit a factual report within one month," said social worker, Pitambar Panda.

Earlier during its investigation, OTV had found at least 75 persons with degrees from one unrecognized college appointed as lecturers in vocational colleges across the State.

These lecturers had produced degrees granted by Kolkata-based – The Institution of Engineers (India), whose recognition was withdrawn by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in 2012.

However, the Department of Higher Education, Odisha had accepted their certificates and appointed them.