'IIT not enough, seek more Central sops'

Even as the State is savouring the success of announcement of setting of an Indian Institute of Technology and a Central University in Orissa by the Union Government, intelligentsia in the State have warned the public not to be get carried away by the announcement, because it would not put Orissa instantly in the league of developed States.
Instead the politicians and the populace should pull up their socks and explore other opportunities. Professor of Arizona State University in USA Chitta Baral said, "The announced IIT is no match for the existing 50 plus year old IITs. Some of the existing IITs have loads of money channelled into their infrastructure and faculty and have 50 plus year old alumni base, which would help them in their future growth." Even with speedy implementations it would take a long time to catch up, he further said.
Baral suggested the State Government should appoint a nodal officer perhaps a senior IAS officer, to facilitate the speedy implementation of the IIT and Central University.He alleged that the setting up of NISER is floundering as the State Government is yet to give possession of land to NISER and the Central Government is yet to appoint a director.He also gave the example of the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Pitching for Vedanta University, he said the 12,000 crore university if implemented as envisioned, has a chance of pushing Orissa ahead of the pack. He however, warned that the opposition party's 'opposition for opposition sake' mentality would send a wrong signal to industrialists making a beeline to the State and force them to give a thought to our neighbours overtures.
He further said that since the State did not get an Indian Institute of Management, the State should send an invitation to Birlas for setting up Birla School of Management on the lines of IIM, whom Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had earlier contacted in 2007. He also urged the Chief Minister, MPs and Union Minister Chandrashekhar Sahu to pursue the setting of National Institute of Fashion Technology, National Institute of Design and Indian Institute of Public Health even though they may be smaller than the much hyped IITs and Central University.