Dr Kang: Work for me is like growth of cell… continuous

Dr Manjit Singh Kang,Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University,completed three years of his tenure on April 30.

Dr Manjit Singh Kang,Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University,completed three years of his tenure on April 30. With his tenure into its last year,he talks to Amrita Chaudhry about his successes and regrets.

What would you list as your achievement in the last three years?
Working for me is a continuous process,which is not divided into any segments. We have been able to achieve things like resolving pensioners issue and starting new courses,where uptake of rural students has been high. PAU website is in place and people are using the system without any hassles. We have been able to achieve e-governance to some an extent,power hotline is in place. Then,for the first time,PAU is on the cover of CSA News Magazine,which is published by the prestigious Crop Science Society of America. Apart from this,we will soon launch a certified course for people who will advise farmers. These experts could be anyone,even schoolchildren or or graduates. They will have to clear an exam and then a certificate will be issued to them. For this,we have signed an MoU with a project run by the IRRI,along with the American Society. In short,work for me is like the growth of a cell,which continuous irrespective of where you put it.

You were brought in as the V-C at a crucial juncture,when the PAU was facing acute financial crisis and so was agriculture in Punjab. Do you think your US experience came handy?
Changes are not visible immediately. PAUs mandate is clear. We are for farmers and we work for them. When I came here,we highlighted issues like environment,water and soil degradation. When I had joined an international conclave on water was also held in PAU. Moreover,as a V-C I have published many articles in various journals and even edited books. It is not necessary for any V-C to do so but I am a scientist at heart .

Do you think that despite being handpicked by the Chief Minister,you had to face many hurdles?
To say handpicked by the Chief Minister is not exactly correct. There have been issues. While we have been able to tackle the problem of pensioners,funding for research has not increased. I remember Planning Commission Chairman Montek Ahluwalia had pointed out that Indias investment in research and development was 0.8 per cent of the GDP while that of US was close to 3 per cent. We are working at 60 per cent of the strength. But then at the same time,we have been able to create areas like school of biotechnology,school for information and technology,nano-technology lab and so on.

Any regrets?
None.

Would you accept an extension?
I do not ask for anything. I was ready to come and teach at PAU for I wanted to give back something to the institute. The government,instead,offered me the post of V-C.

So you will consider the offer?
Yes,for I have to think about my wife too. Till date,she is happy to be here but then she has a career of her own. She is working for CMC and has set up a lab in the hospital by securing a grant. I have had a great long career while she still has many years ahead of her.

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