Bhubaneswar: The students of Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) at Olatapur in Cuttack have heaved a sigh of relief.
The controller of examinations of Utkal University, Sharat Kumar Majhi, has written to the SVNIRTAR director that the students who have passed the final semester examination in January 2020, will be allowed to complete their Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE). This will be done by reducing the period of internship by clubbing it with an assignment or by permitting online internship as recommended by the UGC for the larger interest of the students and their careers, the letter said.
Majhi also wrote that following a request by the Kalinga Bikash Manch, the affiliated courses of Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Masters of Physiotherapy (MPT) will be allowed to continue with the present teaching faculty and, if necessary, with visiting guest faculty or contractual faculty as per convenience.
He has also apprised the additional secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of the decision.
Notably, the Kalinga Bikash Manch, in a memorandum to the Prime Minister, had alleged that the SVNIRTAR director was attempting to abolish PG courses in Physiotherapy (Neurology), Physiotherapy (Paediatrics) and Occupational Therapy from the institute.
Besides, the Manch, in a letter to the Utkal University Vice Chancellor, had cited the non-availability of faculty as the ground for abolition of the courses.