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The first batch of Post Graduate Programme(PGP) with 49 students commenced at IIM Sambalpur on September 23, 2015 in thestate of Odisha. The Chief Guest of the inauguration ceremony was Shri Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, Hon. Minister, Skill Development & Technical Education and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Government of Odisha.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Shri L.N. Gupta, Principal Secretary, Skill Development and Technical Education, Govt. of Odisha; Shri Nagendra Kumar Pradhan, Member of Parliament, Sambalpur; Shri Rohit Kumar Pujari, Deputy Chief Whip, Odisha Legislative Assembly; Dr.Raseswari Panigrahi, MLA, Sambalpur; ShriRamesh Patua, MLA,Rengali; Shri Balwant Singh, District Collector, Sambalpur; Shri P.C. Panigrahi, Director (Personnel), Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited, Shri Umesh Mishra, Chief Engineer CPWD; Shri Sanjeev Nayakand Dr. P.K. Mishra of Silicon Institute of Technology, Sambalpur.
Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan, Director, IIM Indore and Mentor Director, IIM Sambalpur; and Professor Pawan K. Singh, Faculty, IIM Indore were also present on the occasion.
During inaugural address, Shri Burma observed that today is a great occasion for the State of Odisha as well as for Sambalpur region and mentioned that the State Government has sanctioned a plot of 200 acres of land to IIM Sambalpur. He congratulated all the 49 students for being part of the prestigious IIM family and being the participants of the first batch of IIM Sambalpur PGP. While concluding his address, he was happy to note that IIM Indore could successfully arrange necessary academic and administrative support for the commencement of the batch.
Shri L.N. Gupta, Principal Secretary, Skill Development and Technical Education, Government of Odisha congratulated IIM Sambalpur for inducting its first batch successfully and expressed that IIM Sambalpur becomes a state of the art institute and the centre of excellence.
Shri Nagendra Kumar Pradhan, Member of Parliament, Sambalpur informed the audience that a sum of Rs.80 crore has been sanctioned for Sambalpur/Jharsuguda airport, and said that the air connectivity would become a reality soon. Shri Rohit Kumar Pujari, Dr.Raseswari Panigrahi and Shri Ramesh Patua promised their all the necessary support and extended good wishes for development of IIM Sambalpur.
Professor Rishikesha T. Krishnan, Director IIM Indore and Mentor Director, IIM Sambalpur said that all necessary efforts would be undertaken to make IIM Sambalpur as an institution of excellence. He observed that the IIM Sambalpur and the Government would join handsin creating IIM Sambalpur as a centre of high quality education.
ProfessorPawan Kumar Singh, Faculty, IIM Indore, expressed his gratitude to various stakeholders for taking IIM Sambalpur to its present shape. He also announced that the classes will begin from September 24, 2015 in the temporary campus, located in the premises of Silicon Institute of Technology, Sambalpur.
IIM Indore would mentor all the activities of IIM Sambalpur till it moves to its permanent campus, or itis able to handle these activities entirely on its own, whichever is earlier. During the mentorship period and while IIM Sambalpur’s own faculty are recruited, faculty members from IIM Indore will be delivering courses at the Institute. This may include a few visiting faculty selected by IIM Indore to meet their standards. The overall design, quality and delivery of PGP will be up to the expected standards and with direct involvement of IIM Indore.