By Saroj Mishra
Jagadguru Kripalu Yoga Trust (JKYT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Odisha government for setting up a Vedic university in Cuttack district. Reports in the media suggest the government has promised the Trust 110 acres of land for the first phase of the project while another 140 acres would be provided in the second phase.

Before this the government had approved the proposal of the Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidyamandir Trust for the establishment of a university at Naraj on 186 acres of land. The Vedanta group, too, has sought 8000 acres on the Puri-Konark marine drive for setting up a world class university. Odisha's education sector has opened up to private players in a big way.

But at what cost? Can the government afford to give away prime land to private Trusts for setting up institutions whose worth is yet to be tested? To some extent, Vedanta's case is different in that it is an international corporate entity which has been taking up social causes as part of its corporate social responsibility. Besides, being an internationally known company, it can be trusted to come up with a viable blueprint for a university of international standards.

But why is the government so keen to give away land to Trusts set up by religious leaders. This may open the floodgates for such demands from other religious organisations. Besides, it is important to discriminate between organisations in this matter and treat each case on its individual merit. While the Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidyamandir Trust's international dimensions are quite well known by now, one wonders if the trust bearing the name of Sri Kripalu can be put on the same pedestal.

This trust, which promotes yoga, spiritual science and naturopathy, proposes to set up a Vedic university campus. Nothing wrong with that but talking of priorities Odisha currently needs more of specialised technical institutions like the IITs to produce graduates who can be the backbone of state's future development. If reports are to be believed the Trust's proposed university would also offer arts and science courses at degree-level besides courses in rural development, business administration, oriental learning and degree in engineering subjects. But talking of general engineering and management colleges we have too many of them already.

The bigger issue, however, is land which is getting scarcer in the state with each passing day, thanks to the government's massive industrialisation drive and its propensity to privatise. Bhubaneswar , counted among the six fastest growing middle-tier cities of the country, is fast on its way to becoming what experts call a "landless city." With all kinds of projects including a string of huge educational institutions coming up on all sides of the city, soon it will be left with no land to spare. As for the prices of land, they have been soaring beyond imagination. The way things are going the dream of owning a house in the Capital is likely to remain a dream for the lower middle class.

One can see huge structures coming up even on the outskirts of the city near the Chandaka-Dampara sanctuary where a business school headed by a reputed management guru has constructed a huge building. Close to this some other impressive structures have also come up. One can see a construction spree on three other sides of Bhubaneswar as well. Time is not far off when every inch of the Capital would be built up area.

With land becoming scarce in Bhubaneswar , those scouring for real estate are now on a buying spree in the Puri-Konark belt besides in certain parts of Cuttack . For that matter large patches are also being bought in Dhenkanal and Khurda. Quite a large chunk of this real estate is being acquired for the purpose of setting up educational institutions whose utility and performance are yet to be ascertained fully. The government, nonetheless, seems to have no hesitation about making commitments as each MoU, small or big, fetches media publicity and adds to its image.

This, however, is a dangerous trend. Land should not be allotted to any institution, however big or small, without first making a proper feasibility study and ascertaining the utility of the venture for the state. Experience of the past shows that in most of the failed ventures, it is the government which has been the real loser, the loss being that of land which is just as precious as the mineral resources of the state. Let's not squander it away.