Odisha IIM: Forum gheraoes MLAs; wrests promise to back Ganjam’s case

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Nov 12, 2014 at 9:36 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Chhatrapur, Nov 12:

The Forum for IIM in Odisha’s Ganjam district today adopted a novel way to pressurize people’s representatives from the district to influence the state gvernment for establishment of the proposed IIM in the state at Brahmapur or anywhere in Ganjam district.

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Members of the forum gheraoed people’s representatives of the district, including two ministers of the state government, and made them promise that they will pursue the case with the chief minister for locating the proposed IIM in Brahmapur or any place in Ganjam district.

“We have been watching developments on the issue over a period of time and realised that the state government is indifferent to the demand of the people of Ganjam district for locating the proposed IIM in the district. That is why we gheraoed all the people’s representatives and wrested an assurance from them that they will persuade the chief minister to opt for Ganjam district, if not Brahmapur, as the venue for the IIM. We have asked them to adopt a resolution in the matter at the district planning board meeting,” said Sudhakar Rout, convener of the forum.

In the face of the public outrage over the issue, the MLAs, including the ministers, had little option but to make a public commitment that they would pursue the demand.

Minister for Higher Education Pradip Panigrahi told reporters that all people’s reprenetatives from the district support the demand for the IIM to be established in the district.

“This is the demand of the district. All of us will try for its establishment in Ganjam district. But the problem lies with the central guideline. Anyway we will try to convince in favour of Ganjam”, said Panigrahi.

Forest and Environment minister Bikram Arrukh said; “IIM is not set up by the state government; it’s a central government decision. The location for the proposed IIM is under the active consideration of the chief minister. We all want the IIM to be set up in the district.”