August 2, 2016
Md Nadimul Haque speaks on The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Sir, I’m happy to state that I come from a State which prides itself in having one of the crown jewels of education – IIT Kharagpur. IIT Kharagpur has thousands of alumni who have played a role in many fields across the world. Sir, IITs are among India’s finer institutes and it is necessary that they become one of the leading centres of excellence in the world.
It is important that the first focus should be on improving the infrastructure, research facilities and faculties in these institutes. It is really unfortunate that none of our IITs are among the top hundred institutes in the world. We actually do not figure in the top 250 in the global rankings. The present Government should invite top international institutes and universities from Europe, America and other parts of the world to bring in world-class infrastructure and research facilities in the already available IITs and also in the new IITs which the Government is planning to set up.
Focus should be more on student and faculty exchange. Joint research programmes should be initiated by both the present and the future IITs. Sir, it will improve the quality of education and will help bring in ideas and knowledge from across the world.
I would like to raise my concern over a fee hike which has happened in the IITs recently. It is unfortunate that the present Government has hiked the fees by more than 100%. I strictly oppose it and would request the Government to roll it back. Sir, there is also the question of scholarships. The amount which the students are getting at present amounts to Rs 12,600, which is very less. Sir, I appeal to them to raise it to Rs 20,000.
Sir, the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s initiatives to six IITs in Tirupati, Palakkad, Goa, Dharwad, Bhilai and Jammu and to bring the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad within the ambit of the Act is fully supported by me. In fact, we are in favour of setting up at least one I IT in each State. This will give more opportunities throughout the length and breadth of the country.
Sir, through you I would like to ask the Minister to not just focus on industry-institute relationship but also to work towards developing a strong alumni network for both cutting-edge technology as well as monetary support to IITs. The alumni network who have gained excellence in their fields and are in leading positions in multinational companies or research centres across the world should be regularly invited to the institutes and their experience and excellence should be utilised for the nation.
It is important that the Government makes sure of the availability of better choices for the students in the country itself so that the trend of going abroad after graduating from the IITs decreases. Thus more funds should be allotted for those students who want to pursue research after their college education is completed. The standards of the IITs which lag behind other IITs should also be raised so that they are brought on par with one another.
Sir, I end with this Urdu couplet:
Raat ko jeet toh sakta nahin lekin yeh chiraag
Raat ko jeet toh sakta nahin lekin yeh chiraag
Kam se kam raat ka nuksaan bahut karta.
Thank you, Sir
