Rahul for full autonomy to IITs

Rahul advocated the idea of allowing them full freedom if they are to compete at global level with Harvards and Oxfords.

Favouring a fundamental change in the governments outlook on premier institutions like the IITs,Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has advocated the idea of allowing them full freedom and autonomy if they are to compete at the global level with the Harvards and Oxfords.

Rahul expressed his views at a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD,of which he is a member. According to sources,Rahuls brief but forceful intervention in the October 1 meeting,that took up the Institutes of Technology Amendment Bill 2010,underlined his conviction that higher education,especially relating to technology,is in dire need of reform. It was the first time that he made a compelling point at the meeting of the committee.

According to sources,the Congress leader who is seen as a youth icon and has been touring educational institutions across the country for some time now is of the opinion that the IITs would do well to integrate at the global level so that it becomes a modern education system. At the moment,the IITs are disconnected and like silos. They are like a well, he is reported to have told the committee.

Rahuls vision for the IITs is expected to set the tone for the committees approach on the Institute of Technology Amendment Bill 2010 which provides for inclusion of eight new IITs within the IT Act,1961. At least two members,Dr Keshav Rao of the Congress and Janardhan Wagmare of the NCP are believed to have concurred with Rahuls position at the meeting. The committee,headed by senior Congress leader and MP Oscar Fernandes,will finalise its report by the month end.

UPA circles concede that it will also be difficult for Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to ignore Rahuls views on the subject,even though he did overlook the last recommendations made by the committee on the Educational Tribunal Bill.

Rahuls thinking,though,conforms to the general perception that the IITs are an exceptional institution,though he maintains that today they are taking credit for what was earned in the past.

Rahul underlined the need for greater levels of autonomy for the IITs,agreeing that unnecessary regulations had imposed a constraint on them. He told the committee he was convinced IITs would be better than Harvard University if they are given full freedom.