HT News Service |
| News | Posted By: hindtodaynews on:8/28/2010 11:58:23 PM |
In recent visit of delegation from Government Orissa in last July for FDI and specifically support and collaboration for educational development of state was very well supported by Non Resident Odia (NRO) community members in USA. It is definitely very encouraging that that Government of Orissa (GoO) is taking various active steps for attracting NRI/NRO investment both in FDI and expertise to our home state. These initiatives will be of immense mutual benefit to the state and NRO community. The NRO community has been always interested to contribute for the development and growth of their home state of Odisa. In past many NRO community members have individually & collectively contributed for the development of the state, in areas of academics, health care, technology sectors (e.g., IT) & even as NGO in various private and professional capacity.
In addition to supporting this encouraging steps by Govt. of Odisa for development of the state, NRO community and members of OSA (Orissa Society of Americas) brought some genuine concern on past experiences which threaten the basic interest /intention/ objective of NRI/NRO investment. It is very critical that not only Government of Odisa, fully supports and encourages the NRI/NRO investment in the state initially but also fully commits / ensures prevalence of Rule of Law. This is a very key aspect for bringing the confidence among NRO community that Government is not only keen on NRI/NRO investment in state but also equally committed to protect their interest, as well.
In this context the members of NRO community submitted a memorandum on the current state of affairs of National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) at Berhampur, Orissa, established in 1996 by Dr. Sukant K. Mohapatra, a prominent NRO community member.
National institute of Science and Technology (NIST) at Berhampur, was established in 1996 as an NRI Venture, under leadership and chairmanship of Dr. Sukant K. Mohapatra (an NRO from USA), in order to promote higher technical education and research in his home state of Orissa. It is the first NRI educational venture in the state and first degree-granting engineering college in south Orissa under Berhampur University. The institute was envisioned to be a center of excellence for both advanced research in applied science and technology, as well as to provide quality education at par with international standard, thereby becoming world-class university by its own right.
S.M Charitable Educational Trust, which promotes NIST, was founded in 1995 with Dr. Mohapatra and his wife Sanjeeta Mohapatra as donor/author and founder of the trust. At that time, Dr. Mohapatra had taken Sri Sangram Mudali, Sri Surendra Mudali and Shrimati Geetika Mudali as trust members to look after the institute locally. As the founders of the institute, Dr. Mohapatra and his wife have supported it fully financially in addition to his providing personal expertise in academic/research; many other NRI professionals and academicians from abroad have significantly contributed for the institute in advisory and other capacities. It is very unfortunate that, once the institute became self-sustained, people entrusted with the local management started their clandestine plan in order to turn NIST into their sole personal business by unethical means. The most unfortunate and amazing part is that in 2005, the local management tried fraudulently to oust Dr. Mohapatra, the founder of the institute, from the chairmanship of the institute and trust through a fictitious resolution by local three other trustees. Director of Technical Education & Training, Orissa, in his investigation report (Letter No. 11598/dated 10-9-2006) to Government of Orissa has clearly indicated the establishment of NIST as an NRI venture by Dr. Mohapatra, and pointed out illegal and clandestine activities to oust Dr. Mohapatra.
It is very sad that the objective and dream of an NRO to establish a world-class institute in our home state of Orissa is destroyed. It is utterly unfortunate that rather than using his expertise, effort and time in building the envisioned world class institute, he has to run to the court and other authorities for years (since 2005 to date and still going) to get the justice. Moreover, the recent Hon'ble High Court Oder appointing an administrator taking over the management of NIST/trust and investigation of misappropriation continues to be flouted as published in
Click Here .
NRO community requested Hona’ble Chief Minister (though memo submitted to the delegation) for necessary and expedient action as needed including transparent criminal investigation on fraudulent. This will be an eye opener locally in the state and bring major confidence and trust by NRO/NRI community towards Government’s whole hearted support and commitment for NRI investment in the state.