Rourkela: Keeping in mind the increasing number of students at NIT Rourkela, a host of infrastructure developmental projects were inaugurated Thursday by Union Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan at the premier institute in Rourkela.
Besides, a new Kendriya Vidyalaya was also inaugurated inside the campus for the community children. Speaking on the occasion, the minister exhorted the students and faculty of the institute to work for the betterment of the country and to create a new breed of technocrats “who would rather be entrepreneurs than job seekers”.
Pradhan said, “NIT Rourkela should ensure to create more wealth creators as this will take the country forward. And the dream of becoming a developed nation by 2047 will be easy to realise.” “NIT Rourkela has a good environment to nurture wealth creators as it has created an atmosphere for start-ups, which is very much encouraging,” he added.
He also lauded the institute for its achievements and urged that in the coming days, it would touch newer heights. Finally, he said NIT Rourkela has got the maximum of central aid to the tune of `250 crore and this will help the institute to achieve more excellence at all levels.
Sundargarh MP Jual Oram, who was present on the occasion, said, “Studying in NIT Rourkela is a matter of prestige. During my student days, I appeared for the entrance but could not qualify and later I got a diploma.”
Speaking about his political journey, he said, “I started as a losing candidate but today I have won five times. I promise that in my capacity as the MP, I will do whatever little possible for this prestigious institute.”
Earlier, NIT R Director Professor Uma Maheswari Rao informed that the institute was moving in the desired track and would scale newer heights in the future. “All the faculty and students are very emotional about the institute and their dedication is bringing good results.”
He further added, “Today, we are third among all the NITs and 16th among all the technical institutes in the country. Our next target is to break into the top 10.” The minister, apart from inaugurating the Kendriya Vidyalaya, laid foundation stone for six more projects including 1,000-bed boys’ hostels, three 500- bed separate girls’ hostels, one 1.5 MLD sewage treatment plant and a faculty residential complex with 72 flats. MCL has financed `42.69 crore for one of the girls’ hostels under its CSR activity.
NIT Rourkela is also extensively utilising the support of HEFA. Under the HEFA (Higher Education Financing Agency) grant for construction of the hostels. Under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scheme fund provided by the Ministry of Education, the institute is constructing another 500-beded girls’ hostel. Also present on the occasion were MLAs of Biramitrapur and Talsara along with MCL CMD Keshav Rao.
PNN