As a Ph.D. scholar at IIT Madras, i fail to understand on what basis the quality of research in IITs is described as poor. The suggestion that the faculty should be given opportunity to work as consultants with private firms besides teaching and research at the institute strikes me as a dangerous idea. If the existing quality of research is 'poor', how would spending additional time in making money further the cause of research is beyond my comprehension. At present several departments in the institute are already involved in research sponsored by the government and private companies. Is this fact unknown to the participants?
"Currently, only 8 per cent of IIT graduates opt for higher studies", aptly sums up the plight of IIT fraternity. The status of IITs stand to that of a Engineering College only. Out of disgust, IITs have commenced teaching management courses, as if management education is a solution to all the ills that plague the country.
The country does have a role model in the country. However, the alumni of this role model institution also fly away for greener postures and repay the motherland by sending lot of foreign exchange which imparts "feel good" factor to us. Nobody has discussed, leave aside questioning the relevance of the higher education including research carried out by this role model institution, the IISc, Bangalore, which is going to celebrate 100 years of distinguished service to the Nation by providing manpower who possess degrees higher than B Tech.
IITs should immediately get away out of this by restricting themselves to higher education and research. Let undergraduate education in Engineering be the forte of National Institutes of Technology. In due course of time, IIT fratenity will also start feeling like their counterparts from IISc, BARC, TIFR.
Definitely, IIT faculties are less paid though they are Ph.D.experienced persons with number of papers at their credit. They don't live comfortable life as industry ppl.of same qualifications. However,to attract quality teachers preference be given to NRIs Ph.D.holders with nice papers at their credit atleast. This will check brain drain with IITs at benefit and India in turn.
RE:Give more perks to IIT faculty..
by Dr AK Kashyap on Sep 09, 2004 03:45 PM
There are many issues raised by Ms. Medha Purandare. (i) "IIT faculty gets a lower salary as compared to industrial people having the same qualifications." This is more of a myth than the truth. Considering the constraints, industry people have to work, the people from industry should get atleast 50% more salary. There is no substitute to the academic freedom which IIT faculty enjoys. In fact, courtesy, income tax rules, now each and every perk is accounted for. The net salary to industry people is not more than the IIT faculty. This, the previous NDA Govt. had ensured. (ii)IIT faculty does not live a comfortable life. Well, if a person has to get recognition and international contacts. he has to forego the pleasures of life. Secondly, not all the IIT faculty works that harder. Please tell me how many IIT faculty are Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar awardee. (iii) IITs do encourage NRIs. Atleast, NRIs should not be complaining about that. More than 80% recruits to IITs during past 30 years have been NRIs only. It is another thing, that they start feeling depressed when they compare their life back home in India with what they had in States where they had landed up for their Post doc.
It is a tragedy in this country that when it comes to expenditure or income to be justified , we compare the figures to USA and Germany.But when it comes to per capita income or worst the income of a common man a lower middle class person, we simply forget these countries. Same foolish arguement is being advanced for IIT faculty.Starting salary of Rs 26000 is not less. When tehse popel compare salaries of professors in USA, they should also quote per Capita income of US citizens, the quality of research,the accountability and enure system for professors and the dedication to work, research and students. Half of faculty of our institutes is simply junk and they are liability on tax payers money.Till such time government harps on useless PhDs as condition for teaching and research, not many brilliant people are going to jon this profession any way.First thing is to change rules and our degree based obsession.
It would be better if the perks of faculty of IIT is taken by indians and not be interfered by NRIS or members of IIT alumi who have ditched India for good.
