Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) has been established in Nayagarh Autonomous College, Nayagarh to aid and advise the students belonging to marginalized sections including the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Communities (OBCs-Non-creamy layer), Minority Communities, Women and PwD Students etc. Pursuing various programmes of studies at the college. The main problems faced by people viewed as disabled, or ‘with disabilities’, or of minority status, stems from disabling environmental, economic and cultural barriers. Disability and minority are therefore equal rights issues on a par with other forms of unjustifiable discrimination and prejudices.

The Equal Opportunity Cell, in this college was created by a mandate of the UGC specifying the need of a functionary within the college setup which would facilitate affirmative action in order to ensure equal opportunity for all within its folds. The Equal Opportunity Cell primarily orients its activities around training and development programs for the students which provide them with supplementary academic support in the form of remedial coaching.

Furthermore, the Cell conducts sensitization and awareness programmes on a wide array of subjects ranging from Gender Issues, Human Rights, and Inclusion of Marginalized Groups to Peace and Conflict.

The main objectives of the Cell are: :

The terms of reference where in the Equal Opportunity Cell at the College may undertake activities are interlay as under:

To create an atmosphere of Equal Opportunity through awareness generation programmes.

To provide auxiliary support towards skill development and enhancing employability of students.

To tailor development and sensitization programmes to meet the distinct needs of the students. 

To expedite legal redressal in matters of violation of equal opportunity. 

To work out suitable programs/ schemes, including Remedial coaching, (if Masters Degrees are available-UGC–NET/ JRF Coaching) and coaching for Entry into All India Services for improving performance of students from marginalized sections (whether at undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, PhD or other levels) and/or to monitor the implementation of such programs/ schemes.

To establish co-ordination with government and other funding agencies (including Public Sector Undertakings/ Public Sector Banks) with a view to mobilizing financial and other resources required for educational empowerment of the students from marginalized sections.

To provide information and act as a, counselling-cum-guidance centre for students belonging to the marginalized sections, especially with regard to academic, financial and other matters.

To help create a socially conducive atmosphere for the growth of healthy inter-personal relations among students from marginalized sections and from various social backgrounds.

To help develop cordial inter-personal relationships between teachers and the students from marginalized sections for academic inter action and extra-curricular activities.

To extend help/support to the students from marginalized sections to overcome problems and barriers emanating from discrimination at any level within its mandate.

To organize or conduct seminars/symposia/workshops/conferences/exhibitions, etc. From time-to-time on issues of contemporary significance for empowering, educationally and culturally, students belonging to the marginalized sections.

Affirmative action concerning SC, ST, OBC and EWS.

A barrier free access to all buildings of colleges, departments, libraries, hostels and offices of the College.

Smooth and efficient running of a Resource Centre that specializes in addressing the needs of PwDs in all categories including visual, hearing, orthopaedic, and neurological.

No discriminationon grounds of disability o rminority status.

Short term courses for imparting employable skills for the disabled and for raising awareness about disability.

Reaching out to like-minded institutes and organisations dealing with similar issues. To meet the aforesaid objectives, an‘Equal Opportunity Cell’ has been created at the college level.

The Equal Opportunity Office Comprises of:

1. RAHENUMA KHATUN, Dept.of History

 2. Smt Sangeeta Mallick, Dept.of Chemistry                  

 3.  Dr. Pramod Kumar Dash, Dept.of Philosophy 

4. Sri Pramod Behera, Dept.of Odia

5. Dr. Janakinath Dash, Dept.of Botany

6. Sri Prakash Kumar Rout, Dept.of Physics