The proposal forwarded by the state Government of Odisha to RUSA (Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) regarding granting University status to the Rama Devi Women's College has been duly accepted.
According to the state's Higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahi, the proposal also included a clause for imparting a cluster varsity status to the Khalikote College situated at Berhampur.
The minister was quoted saying "The Central government sponsored Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) accepted Odisha government's proposal regarding this," He also added that Rama Devi Women College would also become the first women's University in the state.
He further informed that women colleges which are currently operating under Utkal University would be brought under the control of the new women's University.
He said that "Colleges which are located nearer to Khallikote College will be brought under the cluster university's purview,"
The centre would grant Rs 55 crore for these two Universities over a period of 3 years, under RUSA, for the purpose of infrastructure development. The state Government is also mulling over the idea of introducing more courses in these two new Universities.