February 27th 2025.
The situation at Maa Manikeswari University in Bhawanipatna has been causing concern among students, academicians, and intellectuals in the district. Reports have revealed that out of the 112 teaching positions that were sanctioned, a staggering 91 of them remain vacant. This has resulted in a severe shortage of faculty at the university, greatly impacting the quality of education being provided.
It is worth mentioning that the university, previously known as Kalahandi University, was renamed in 2023. However, the name change has not brought about any positive changes in terms of staff shortages. The institution continues to suffer from a lack of teaching staff, as highlighted by data presented in the Assembly. Out of the total 112 sanctioned positions, only 21 are currently occupied, leaving 91 positions unfilled.
This shortage of faculty has greatly affected various departments, with some facing a higher number of vacancies than others. For instance, the Botany department has seven vacant positions, while Anthropology has only one. Likewise, there are seven vacancies in Commerce, Economics, Education, Chemistry, History, and Odia departments, among others. To make matters worse, the university currently has only 27 regular faculty members, who are being supplemented by 48 guest lecturers.
The staff shortage is not limited to teaching positions alone. In fact, all 90 non-teaching positions are also vacant, with only eight regular staff members currently employed. Despite the state government sanctioning a substantial amount of Rs 47.32 crore for infrastructure development of the university, only Rs 36.66 crore has been disbursed so far. This funding was allocated for the period of 2020-25, and the university has jurisdiction over Kalahandi and Nuapada districts.
During a recent session in the Assembly on February 21, 2025, MLA Sudhir Ranjan Pattjoshi raised questions regarding the amount spent on the university's infrastructure development and the number of vacant faculty and staff positions. He also inquired about the steps taken by the state government to provide independent grants to the university. In response, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj provided information about the vacant positions and the grants allocated for the university's development. He acknowledged the shortage of staff and stated that the state government takes necessary steps each year to fill up these positions. He also assured that funds are allocated as required for the university's infrastructure, and legal matters are being addressed through appropriate government measures.
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