On Thursday i.e. October 21, 2010, Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal met the directors of eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the teething problems that the new IITs were facing. As per sources, the Directors of the institutions told the Minister about the constraints they face regarding infrastructure and faculty, as many of these institutes are functioning from temporary campuses, currently.
HRD Ministry official said that a number of IITs are facing problems of clearances with central/state government departments for acquisition of the land allotted to them. Further, the official added that in this regard that the minister has asked for a meeting to be conducted next month with the concerned state government officials, central government officials and IIT Directors, to facilitate the process of land acquisition.
As per sources, the new IITs have been allowed to top up the faculty salary from their own funds, but only after the HRD minister's approval. The step is taken on the lines of latest concession to Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on topping up the faculty salary. HRD Ministry official said that at present, in the IITs, the scale Rs.67000-Rs.79000 is applicable for 40 percent of the professors in position. The new IITs expressed they have been unable to implement this grade, since they have been able to recruit only few faculty so far.
The HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said that the ministry would seek approval from the finance ministry/cabinet to be able to implement this salary grade for the new IITs. In addition, he said that the new IITs also felt that a revision in fund allocation would be required in view of the escalation of construction costs. He has directed the officials to examine the matter and come up with a proposal in this regard, minister added.
As per sources, major improvements are in progress in the leading engineering institutions, with permission to take in foreign faculty and students, and for conducting medical courses (under the Medical Council of India's guidance) being some of them.
