Rayagada Autonomous College

The long cherished desire for a college at Rayagada was realized with its formal inauguration by Sadasiba Mishra, the then Vice-Chancellor, Utkal University, on 4.7.1966 The proposal for a college at Rayagada was on the cards for over a long period of time which gained momentum in 1965. As a sequel, the decision to start the college with Science and Arts faculties was taken in the ?Citizens? Meeting on 10-10-1964. An adhoc college Committee was constituted with the membership of some local citizens. The Proposal received active Supports from the three Industrial Establishments at Rayagada, the J.S.Co. Ltd., Straw Products Ltd., (J.K.Paper Mills) and IMFA Ltd., Therubali. In the General Body meeting on 30-6-1965 a fifty one members ?Executive Council? was elected representing cross sections of the local people. Late Sadasiba Tripathy, The then Chief Minister, Orissa, Late T.Sangana, the then Minister, T.R.W. and Excise, Government of Orissa were made the Honorary Presidents of the Council. The other dignitaries to have been taken into the folds of the executive council as Vice-Presidents are as follows: Dr.D.Subba Rao, the then plant manager, J.S.Co., Ltd. Late P.K.Nanda, the then Works Manager,(Straw Products Ltd.) Sri A.P.Kapoor, the then Works Secretary (Straw Products Ltd) Dr.B.D.Panda, Managing Director, IMFA Ltd. Late Ramaseshayya, the then Minister of Health, Govt. of Orissa Sri R.C.Ulaka, the then M.P., Koraput Sri Kamayya, the then M.L.A. A Managing Committee was formed with the following members : President : Sub-Collector, Rayagada Secretary : Sri G.K.Padhy, Advocate Jt.Secretary: Sri N.K.Das, Advocate Treasurer : Sri K.A. Kumundan, Advocate Member : Sri M.Kamayya Member : Sri K.N.Kumundan Member : Sri V.K.Rao, Advocate Member: Sri N.Devi Prasad Member: Sri K.C.Boxipatra The College was affiliated to Utkal University till the inception of Berhampur University in 1967 vide Statute 227. Consequently a care taker Governing Body was formed with the members from the above Managing Committee and two members from the teaching staff and the Principal, as ex-officio member. A fifteen member Governing Body headed by Sri N.Debi Prasad and Sri R.C.Boxipatra as President and Secretary respectively took over the management after the expiry of the tenure of the previous management committee. In the General Body meeting of the College Committee on 11-4-1976 the Bye-Laws of the college were amended. The Sub-Collector, Rayagada and the Principal were made ex-officio President and secretary respectively. The +2 Wing of the college is affiliated to the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Orissa. CONFERMENT OF AUTONOMOUS STATUS The College has been the favorite for academic pursuits of the students, the bulk of which consists the stakeholders from the backward communities in the district and in the neighboring Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts. It has almost doubled its student intake capacity to facilitate their greater enrolment and to get their cherished yearnings realized. The year 2007 has been a land mark year in the history of the college. The year saw the college attaining autonomous status conferred upon it by the University Grants Commission. The Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha and Berhampur University were pleased to approve the attainment of autonomy. Autonomy has proved to be a major tool to bridging the gap between resources and academic accomplishments of the college. The college has successfully completed the five year tenure of autonomy meanwhile. Extension of autonomy for the next subsequent term is very much in the offing. The college has since crossed yet another milestone by being accredited at Grade ?B? to the National Assessment And Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2006. The accreditation among other things, has smoothened the generous mobilization of funds, utilized in the capacity building of the college. The process for reaccreditation is on in the right earnest. The College has been a venue to a host of state sponsored examinations being conducted by different examining bodies and chosen a Centre for the establishment of a language laboratory under the patronage of the Government of Odisha.