While senior office-bearers of several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) seem to be unhappy with the working of the human resource development (HRD) ministry, Pradipta Banerji, director, IIT Roorkee, is all praise for Smriti Irani's style of functioning and prime minister Narendra Modi's initiatives for the development and progress of educational institutions.
While senior office-bearers of several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) seem to be unhappy with the working of the human resource development (HRD) ministry, Pradipta Banerji, director, IIT Roorkee, is all praise for Smriti Irani's style of functioning and prime minister Narendra Modi's initiatives for the development and progress of educational institutions.
Speaking to dna at the institute recently, Banerjee appreciated Irani for her efforts and sincerity towards the IITs. While the IIT Board chairman Anil Kakodrar and IIT Delhi director RK Sevagonkar have had tiffs with the ministry, Banerji said, "Such differences have occurred in the past as well. These controversies are media-driven rather than institute-driven. We will all mature with time."
Banerjee is also opposed to the idea of criticising the HRD minister or any particular political ideology. "In all my interactions with her (Irani), I have found the HRD minister to be a very positive and progressive person. She understands issues well, we need to give her time," he added. Refusing to comment upon any individual, Banerji also added that every time a single person alone cannot be held responsible. "It is a two-way traffic," he said.
The director, however, raised concerns over setting up more IITs and reduction of funds for existing institutions. "We always seem to be in a hurry. Establishing more IITs is fine, but it should not be at the cost of scaling down funds of the existing ones," he says. The total education budget has gone down by 17 per cent, but the proposal for setting up more IITs has been announced, reducing the individual share of the institutes. Banerji suggests that it is time that the IITs should now look at corporate houses and philanthropy institutes funding. "Academics, philanthropy and corporate houses need to go hand in hand. We are now looking at ventures to get funding from these bodies," revealed the director.
Prime minister's idea of Railway University did not find a mention in the budget. Instead, announcement for four railway research centres was made by the rail minister. While tall announcements made by the Prime Minister drew criticism, Banerji is all for PM' s announcement. "Announcements are very vey important in India. They come with a budget head and things start rolling," he said. The director also added that Railway Universities cannot be set up overnight. "For better technical and human source, a centre should be setup in the first place, which can then go on to becoming a university," he explains. IIT Roorkee is getting one of the four railway centres.
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