Education and Health in Odisha

Odisha has been a pioneer in education and research since ancient times. Evidence of this is seen in the ruins of Puspagiri, an ancient university in Jajpur. Under Hindu and Buddhist rule, education thrived, drawing scholars from various regions. The traditional system suffered greatly during British colonization in 1803 AD, but the establishment of modern educational institutions followed, beginning with Odisha’s first primary school in 1822 AD.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Gain insights into Odisha’s educational and health infrastructure.
2. Understand the structure of primary, secondary, and higher education.
3. Learn about major universities, technical institutions, and medical facilities in Odisha.
4. Comprehend health indicators and policies in place for Odisha’s population.

Education Sector in Odisha

Primary Education

Primary education in Odisha is overseen by the Department of School and Mass Education, established in 1993. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, mandates free education for children aged 6-14, enforced in Odisha since April 1, 2010. The Economic Survey 2017-18 provides the following details:

1. Functional primary schools: 36,318 with 1.33 lakh teachers and 39.72 lakh students.
2. Upper primary schools: 23,096 with 72,380 teachers and 22.26 lakh students (as of 2016-17).

Secondary Education

The Board of Secondary Education, established in 1953, manages secondary education. The Economic Survey 2017-18 notes:

1. High/secondary schools: 9,873 in Odisha.

Higher Education

Odisha has a diverse array of institutions, as per the Economic Survey 2017-18:

1. Government colleges: 51.
2. Non-government aided colleges: 255.
3. Universities: 1 Central, 12 State, 2 Deemed, and 4 Private.

Initiatives include free education from +2 to post-graduation for orphans and those under foster care, provided their guardians’ income is below INR 1 lakh.

Major Universities in Odisha

Odisha is home to numerous renowned universities:

1. Sambalpur University: Established in 1967 in Sambalpur, it promotes education in Western Odisha.
2. Berhampur University: Founded in 1967 in Bhanja Bihar, it serves multiple districts including Ganjam and Rayagada.
3. Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya: Established in 1981 in Puri, aims to promote Sanskrit language and education.
4. Utkal University: The oldest in Odisha (established in 1943), and the 17th oldest in India, located at Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar.
5. Utkal University of Culture: Founded in 1999, it offers courses in cultural studies, archaeology, arts, and literature.
6. Central University of Odisha: Established in 2009 in Koraput, focusing on quality education and skilled workforce development.

Higher Education Institutions in Odisha

National Level Institutions in Odisha

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS): Established in Bhubaneswar in 2012, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in medical sciences.
2. Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM): Set up in Bhubaneswar in 1983, it specializes in tourism and travel management.
3. Biju Patnaik National Steel Institute: Founded in 2002 in Puri, under the Ministry of Steel, offers courses accredited by AICTE.
4. Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC): Established in Dhenkanal in 1993, it offers journalism courses.
5. National Law University (NLU): Established in 2008 in Cuttack, it provides undergraduate and postgraduate law courses.

Technical Education in Odisha

Managed by the Directorate of Technical Education, the state has 48 government ITIs. Odisha has two notable technical universities:

1. Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT): Established in 2009 in Sambalpur. Aims to create quality engineers and researchers.
2. Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT): Founded in 2002 in Rourkela, it ensures standardized curriculum and evaluations across technical colleges.

Technical Universities in Odisha

Polytechnic Education

Managed by the Department of Technical Education (DTE), polytechnic institutes offer various diploma courses. Some notable institutes include:

1. Angul: Adarsha School of Engineering.
2. Balasore: Jhadeswar Institute of Engineering and Technology.
3. Cuttack: Ganapati Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Literacy Rate in Odisha

Odisha has made notable strides in literacy over the last decade. As per the 2011 Census:

1. Overall literacy rate: 72.87% (lower than India’s 74.04%).
2. Male literacy: 81.59%.
3. Female literacy: 64.01%.
4. Highest district literacy: Khordha at 86.88%.
5. Lowest district literacy: Nabarangpur at 46.43%.

Health Sector in Odisha

The health infrastructure in Odisha has been on the rise due to continuous governmental efforts. The Economic Survey 2017-18 reports:

1. Hospitals: 32 district hospitals, 377 community health centers, 1226 primary health centers.
2. Specialized health services: 2 Ayurvedic hospitals, 7 Ayurvedic and Homeopathic colleges, 3 medical colleges.

Health Indicators

1. Total Fertility Rate: 2.1 children per woman (2015-16).
2. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): 180 per 1,00,000 live births (2015-16).
3. Infant Mortality Rate: 40 per 1,000 live births (2015-16).
4. Crude Birth Rate: 18.6 live births per 1,000 population (2016).
5. Crude Death Rate: 7.6 per 1,000 population (2016).
6. Life Expectancy: 66.3 years for males, 69.6 years for females (2016-20).

Important Note: The Directorate of Medical Education & Training (DMET), established in 1975, plays a pivotal role in medical education in Odisha.

Medical Education

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS): Located in Bhubaneswar, provides undergraduate and postgraduate education in medical sciences.
2. Government Medical Colleges:

• SCB Medical College: Cuttack.
• MKCG Medical College: Berhampur.
• VSS Medical College: Sambalpur.

Directorate of AYUSH

Established in 1968, AYUSH covers Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. Education in AYUSH is provided through three colleges in Rourkela, Sambalpur, and Bhubaneswar.

Important Concept: AYUSH represents alternative healthcare practices gaining popularity in Odisha, supplementing allopathic medicine.

Odisha’s Comparative Literacy and Health Overview

Note: Despite improvement in health and education, Odisha’s literacy rate is still below the national average.

MCQ: Which is the oldest university in Odisha?
A. Sambalpur University
B. Berhampur University
C. Utkal University
D. Ravenshaw University
Correct Answer: C. Utkal University