Mixed response from students on IIT, IIM woes

Updated on: Tuesday, September 22, 2009

New Delhi: The decision to go on a one-day strike by the faculty members of the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to protest the modified notification of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) — which, among other things, ignores their demand for a pay hike — has evoked a mixed response from the student community, alumni of the premier institutes, and guardians of education.

Professor Yash Pal, chairman of the Yash Pal Committee which recently submitted a report to the ministry on renovation and rejuvenation of higher education, said: “If all the central and state universities also start asking for higher pay, how is it possible to carry everyone? If the work is enough and pay reasonable, it should be acceptable. It’s not good to talk about money all the time. The HRD ministry will surely look into the requirements of the faculty members.”

“Meanwhile, it is more appropriate for the faculty to speak to the ministry rather than take measures like strikes,” he added.

Arbind Sinha, acting director, Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA), acknowledges that IIMs and the IITs “are centres of excellence and should be accorded special status. They should definitely be considered on a different package than faculty from other universities”. However, he adds that professors “should also be considerate beyond a certain point. The country’s economy is different from what it was two years ago. The faculty members should express their mandate with the government but they should not go on strikes. Strikes are beyond the dignity of a teacher”.

Students and alumni, however, take a more liberal and understanding view of the situation.

Mixed response from students on IIT, IIM woes

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