Vikram Dev Autonomous College, the oldest college in Jeypore, Koraput, was upgraded to a University by the Odisha government on Thursday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the proposal and expressed happiness as the long-standing demands of the intellectuals and students have been fulfilled.
The decision triggered celebrations among the alumni and students of Vikram Dev Autonomous College as the institution will be celebrating its 75th foundation day and Platinum Jubilee on Friday.
The alumni, students, and teachers of the college as well as the residents of undivided Koraput have welcomed the decision.
BJD’s State general secretary Pradeep Majhi and a former student of the institution expressed his happiness over the decision and said, “We were expecting some gift from CM Patnaik’s tour to undivided Koraput. He bestowed the gift a day before his visit for the growth of education in this region. On behalf of the alumni association, we are welcoming this decision and are extremely thankful.”
“Chief Minister has been approached multiple times about upgrading the institution to an affiliated University and I had given the proposal in writing. Even, when we invited him, we got a positive response from him. I welcome today’s decision,” said Jeypore MLA, Taraprasad Bahinipati.
CM Patnaik is scheduled to attend the Platinum Jubilee of the educational institution as the Chief Guest.
Spread over 15 acres of land, Vikram Dev Autonomous College was established in 1947 by Vikram Deo Verma, the erstwhile king of Jeypore. It got its autonomous institution status in 2004. Currently, the institution has over 4000 students and it runs 16 post-graduate programmes and 17 undergraduate programmes across science, commerce, and arts streams.
The Higher Education department issued a notification regarding the upgradation of the college into a university by altering the territorial jurisdiction of Berhampur University. According to the notification, after upgradation, the institution will be identified as Vikram Dev University with effect from the date of notification in the Odisha Gazette.
Reported by T.Gouri Shankar, Jeypore