NANDINI CHHATRI NIVAS :
A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

In the post-Independent era the Government of India rightly emphasized on Women's Education. Accordingly schools opened for girl students in large numbers in remote areas. The number of girl students enrolling for higher education also increased. The same had been the situation in Orissa. In the 60s of the last century the few colleges of Orissa began to receive more and more girl students. Thus when Kuchinda College was established in 1964 in an agriculture based tribal Sub-Division of Western Orissa the immediate need was to accommodate the girl students coming from the near by areas. The present ladies hostel of Kuchinda College was inaugurated in the year 1976 by the then Chief Minister Smt. Nandini Sathpathy, and was named after her as Nandini Chatri Nivash . Now it spreads over an area of two acres consisting of three blocks largely due to the TRW grants, M.P. and M.L.A. LAD funds.

In the beginning the ladies hostel capacity was limited to only 30 students. But over the years this number has been increasing in leaps and bounds. At present 228 girl students from different parts of Orissa and from different cultural background are staying together in the hostel. The homely and secure atmosphere of the hostel which is situated very close to the main building of the college and in front of Principal's residence is the reason of the growth of its strength. The girls are accommodated in order of merit and the distance of their home town is taken into consideration. Good academic performance of the inmates of the hostel has spread its name far & wide.

The Superintendents and the principal take every possible step to create a sound academic atmosphere and to bring about the all round development of the inmates of the Niva'JBoarciers of the Chhatri Nivas attend mass prayer daily in the evening hour to get spiritual strength which helps them to fight against all sorts of evils and to solve their problems. There is a good deal of understanding, fellow feeling, cooperation. love and affection among the inmates. The senior girls always extend a helping hand to the juniors at the time of need/ith a mission to improve the academic achievement of the inmates a strict study hour from 06 P.M. to 09 P.M. is maintained. In order to make them aware of the dignity of labour and the importance of cleanliness, regular campus cleaning programme is undertaken on Sundays.

Several functions and competitions are organised throughout the year by the elected office bearers under the guidance of the superintendents. Essay. Debate, Poetry. Song, Dance, Jhoti, Mehendi and Painting competitions bring out the hidden talents of the girls. The Annual Function of the Ladies Hostel was organised for the first time in 2003 and all the inmates got involved in the occasion with great enthusiasm. Various pujas and festivals like Holi, Deepavali, Saraswati Puja etc. are observed in the hostel. Hostel common room provides selected News Papers. Magazines, and facilities for Indoor games. The inmates express their creative literary talent through the wall magazine PRACHIRA.

For these more than two hundred girls, Nandini Chhatri Nivas is a home away from home. Like any other ideal institution. the relationship between the inmates and the employees of the Chhatri Nivas is very cordial. They are ever ready to assist the girls at difficult hours. And the girls in their turn share their joys and sorrows with them The experience of living together for two years. or for a maximum of five years. go a long way with them in life.

Miss Suchitra Mishra
Reader in Philosophy,
Superintendent, Nandini Chhatrinivas