NEW DELHI: The IIM bill is stuck again. A month after the HRD ministry sent the bill for Cabinet clearance, PMO has said that in the present form, the autonomy of IIMs will be compromised.
"The bill was finalised after long discussions with PMO and law ministry. We are back to discussing autonomy issues. PMO thinks that Institute of Technology Act that governs all the IITs cannot be used as a blueprint for IIMs," a PMO source said. "There is a basic difference between IITs and IIMs. In retrospect many experts feel lack of research in IITs could be due to too much interference by government. IITs have to seek permission for everything. IIMs need a different model."
All four issues related to autonomy is being revisited. "It is not that differences exist on all of them. Some were resolved earlier," an official said.
The four issues are: One, President to be the visitor of IIMs with power to review their functioning. Two, HRD minister to be made the ex-officio head of committee of IIMs. Three, composition of IIM boards. Four, IIMs should not come to government for change in regulations.
Of these four, HRD had earlier convinced PMO on two issues. HRD ministry wanted President to be the visitor of IIMs with power to review their functioning, just as it is in the case of IITs. However, PMO felt that board of governors should have that power. But the HRD ministry argued that similar provision in case of IITs has worked well with not a single case of transgression of autonomy of IITs.
Now, PMO wants this to be reviewed. PMO is also not in favour of making HRD minister the ex-officio head of committee of IIMs. Though PMO had agreed earlier, now there is a thinking that the committee be headed by some expert. HRD's argument that minister also heads IIT Council without interfering in their work is being viewed differently.
There is little chance of any conflict on the composition of IIM boards. Already, out of 14 members, five would be from among alumni. HRD's argument that five members can easily influence decisions was also countered by PMO. It said non-government voice should have a larger say.
However, the issue of IIMs seeking government nod for changing regulations has been resolved. According to the version of the bill sent for Cabinet clearance, IIMs do not have to approach the government to change regulations. Board of Governors will have the power to do so.
-- "The bill was finalised after long discussions with PMO and law ministry. We are back to discussing autonomy issues. PMO thinks that Institute of Technology Act that governs all the IITs cannot be used as a blueprint for IIMs," a PMO source said. "There is a basic difference between IITs and IIMs. In retrospect many experts feel lack of research in IITs could be due to too much interference by government. IITs have to seek permission for everything. IIMs need a different model."
All four issues related to autonomy is being revisited. "It is not that differences exist on all of them. Some were resolved earlier," an official said.
The four issues are: One, President to be the visitor of IIMs with power to review their functioning. Two, HRD minister to be made the ex-officio head of committee of IIMs. Three, composition of IIM boards. Four, IIMs should not come to government for change in regulations.
Of these four, HRD had earlier convinced PMO on two issues. HRD ministry wanted President to be the visitor of IIMs with power to review their functioning, just as it is in the case of IITs. However, PMO felt that board of governors should have that power. But the HRD ministry argued that similar provision in case of IITs has worked well with not a single case of transgression of autonomy of IITs.
Now, PMO wants this to be reviewed. PMO is also not in favour of making HRD minister the ex-officio head of committee of IIMs. Though PMO had agreed earlier, now there is a thinking that the committee be headed by some expert. HRD's argument that minister also heads IIT Council without interfering in their work is being viewed differently.
There is little chance of any conflict on the composition of IIM boards. Already, out of 14 members, five would be from among alumni. HRD's argument that five members can easily influence decisions was also countered by PMO. It said non-government voice should have a larger say.
However, the issue of IIMs seeking government nod for changing regulations has been resolved. According to the version of the bill sent for Cabinet clearance, IIMs do not have to approach the government to change regulations. Board of Governors will have the power to do so.
[TOI dated 29th Jun 2016]
EDUCATE, EMPOWER, ELEVATE
Prof. Bholanath Dutta
Founder & President
MTC Global: An Apex Global Advisory Body
in Management Education, ISO 9001: 2008
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