Girls outperform boys at OUAT

BHUBANESWAR: More than 70 per cent of the gold medalists at the 34th convocation of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) were girls. Job security and scope for research in the field of agriculture and technology and wide range of opportunities are attracting more women into the sector.
"I am really happy that there are more girls among the gold medalists of the university.This is a positive sign. It also proves that girls worked harder than boys and should get accolades," said vice-chancellor of the university Manoranjan Kar.
Girls topped the university in postgraduate studies in most departments while most of the top scorers in undergraduate studies are also women students. The highest number of awards and medals for a single student went to Sheuli Chaterjee, who received 11 medals for scoring the highest marks in different subjects.
"There is no particular reason but, of course, girls are more serious than boys about studies. More girls are coming to the agriculture sector because of job security and wider opportunity for diversification," said Sheuli. She added, "If you study agriculture you can go for banking, insurance, seed selection, chemical and fertilizers and so on."
A total 211 medals were given away for students who graduated in 2013 and 2014 of whom 147 were women.
"It's not that girls are excelling in agriculture only, they are doing well in all examinations. More women achieving success in the higher education sector will have a direct and indirect impact on our society," said honorary professor of the university S R Das.
Arnapurna Moharana, who won seven gold medals said, "In agriculture there is ample scope for research. I will continue my higher education and do my research in this field."
Vice chancellor also informed that this year 26 students from College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology under the university qualified for GATE examination in 2015, which is a record of highest number of students being qualified from any single institute of 54 colleges of agricultural engineering and Technology in India.
Former chairman of Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board Prof Madappa Mahadevappa and director general and CEO of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines Dr Robert Stewart Zeigler were conferred honoris causa on the occasion.