Bhubaneswar: The Central University of Odisha (CUO) has received Rs 609.71 crore in grants over the past five years, of which Rs 189 crore has been released by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Minister of State for Education Dr. Sukanta Majumdar informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
In a written reply to a question by senior Congress leader and Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Dr. Majumdar said that the university has been provided adequate financial support for the development of its permanent campus. “During the last five years, Rs 609.71 crore has been sanctioned as grant-in-aid for the construction of the permanent campus, of which Rs 189 crore has been released by the UGC based on fund utilisation,” he added.
The minister noted that academic activities at CUO are being conducted using completed infrastructure, including academic blocks, library buildings, hostels, staff quarters, and a guest house. He added that the university is not facing any difficulties in carrying out academic programmes and that measures are regularly taken to strengthen infrastructure, faculty, and student facilities.
Dr. Majumdar also stated that recruitment of faculty and non-teaching staff is ongoing and follows the provisions of the Central Universities Act, 2009, university statutes and ordinances, and other applicable rules. CUO is a statutory autonomous institution, and all academic and administrative decisions are taken through its statutory bodies, including the Executive Council, Academic Council, and Court.
The university adheres to reservation norms for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) in admissions, faculty recruitment, and staff appointments, in accordance with government rules.
However, the official response has faced criticism for lacking transparency. MP Ulaka took to social media platform X to highlight gaps, saying, “Zero data on faculty vacancies, zero disclosure on research, labs, hostels, blanket claims on reservation compliance. This is how the government responds in Parliament on Central University of Odisha & @EduMinOfIndia from Odisha. Accountability can’t be replaced by vague assurances.”
