Pilibhit: Union human resources development minister Smriti Irani had decided to set up eight new IITs in a debate. Students from the older IITs have begun an online petition seeking review of the move, and 6,000 signatures were gathered in less than a week.
The petition, submitted to the minister online by IIT Kharagpur student Digvijay Patil, sought that the infrastructure of existing IITs — there are now 16 of them — be strengthened and upgraded first, before new institutes are started.
The community of students had given an overwhelming support to the petition and messages have been pouring in endlessly on social websites like Facebook and messaging network WhatsApp.
IIT students are making all out efforts to project nationwide unanimity in this matter. Among the issues raised by the students are acute shortage of competent teaching staff, and inadequate facilities.
Reports claimed that existing IITs in India have 6,591 sanctioned posts. Only 4,079 have been filled, a mere 62% of total requirement. Among these faculty positions are also teachers on visiting, adjunct and contractual arrangements.
What is more, the eight IITs set up in 2009 have not yet shifted to permanent campuses.
Given that the HRD minister Smriti Irani has expressed willingness to scrap the controversial four-year undergraduate study programme in Delhi University, IIT students too hope their petition will be heard.
Bureau Report
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