Even as the Students’ Union election has been put on the back burner for the past 5 years, heat is now being felt in educational campuses in Odisha ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections. The focus is on youth voters.
While the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is extensively harping on its ‘ Nua-O’ scheme, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be eyeing to grab the young voters' attention through the recent UGC directive of having selfie points in universities and colleges.
The Odisha government recently asked all state public universities and degree colleges to use the scheme name ‘ Nua-O’ instead of IYDP in all creatives and communications. It is pertinent to mention here that the Higher Education Department and the Department of Sports and Youth Services decided to organise cultural and sports competitions through the Integrated Youth Development Programme (IYDP).
However, the name has been now changed to Nutana Unnata Abhilasha (NUA) Odisha (NUA-O). The question remains- what prompted the Odisha government to go for the change in the name?
Opposition parties allege that it is mainly due to a lack of branding of CM Naveen Patnaik in IYDP. Hence, BJD is now promoting NUA-O with the CM’s name and photograph. The posters and banners of NUA-O are now dotting several campuses across the state.
“Branding or not, it doesn’t matter. The thing that matters is what is the scheme all about as it has pleased the students and it will certainly help in the formation of a new Odisha,” said Odisha Higher Education Minister, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak.
Politics is also active after UGC’s directive to universities to set up selfie points having a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to showcase various achievements. BJP claims that it is a move to educate and create awareness among students about the National Education Policy, while at the same time, the BJD is trying to campaign for votes by painting campuses ‘green’ (the BJD’s party colour).
“BJD is doing gimmick and instead of focusing on improving infrastructure, research facilities, bringing better lecturers, the party is focusing on promoting CM Naveen Patnaik through its NUA-O scheme. The youths have understood such a ploy. The Centre has taken steps to ensure that everybody knows about the tremendous developments in the education sector,” said state BJP Secretary, Irashish Acharya.
Meanwhile, BJD claims that it is a scheme to unite the youths and there is no politics in the name change. Congress, on the other hand, said both BJD and BJP are indulging in campaigning using people’s money.
"The BJD and BJP’s move is to attract new voters through Nua-O and selfie points. The day selfie points and banners will be put up on campuses, the Congress will oppose it. Under no circumstances, politics will be encouraged on campuses,” said Congress Spokesperson, Krushnachandra Pati.
It is pertinent to mention here that senior leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik was ousted from BJD for criticising the Odisha government over the cancellation of the Students' Union election which has not been held for the last 5 years. However, the BJD is carrying out a membership drive by forming campus committees.
At a time when several educational institutions lack playgrounds, and adequate classrooms apart from shortage of lecturers, the move to organise cultural and sports competition by spending crores has raised eyebrows.
“There is no problem in doing anything related to votes outside campuses. The drive to divide students on campuses is not justified. Why students’ union election has been stopped? The promotion of party leaders and party ideology on campuses is not called for,” said senior political expert, Rabi Das.