IITs, IISc say that patchy funding is delaying ‘Institute of Eminence’ plans

• Three premier Indian institutions raised concerns over lack of government funding.
  
• Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Mumbai and Delhi campuses and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru are amongst those who are unhappy with the IoE plans.
  
• The Human Resource and Development Ministry (MHRD) recently awarded Institute of Eminence (IoE) tag to Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar.

Three premier Indian institutions are unhappy with the slow release of government funds.

The issue came to the fore when Human Resource and Development Ministry (MHRD) awarded Institute of Eminence (IoE) tag to Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar. But two institutes which were given the same recognition last July --Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Mumbai and Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru — say that the government has not yet provided enough funds to implement IoE plans.

The IoE scheme plans to rope in 10 public and private institutions and enable them with better infrastructure, amenities, and autonomy.

As per the scheme, the government was to infuse ₹1,000 crore over five years to public institutions. Private institutions are not eligible for government funding.

IIT Delhi had requested for ₹200 crore but received ₹93 crore, as on September 2019. IIT Mumbai received nearly ₹43 crore. On the other hand, IISc has received ₹78 crore against its demand for ₹167 crore in 2018.

“There is a protocol for release of funds. The unused balance with the institute has to be reduced to 20% for further (fund) release,” HRD official told the Indian Express.

The institutions have appealed for a regular inflow of funds to execute IoE scheme.

“We cannot start a big project or activity if funds are released in piecemeal (manner). It’ll be much easier if funding is linked to an activity and not to fixed conventional heads under which the government usually releases funds,” the official added.

The government recognised five Indian institutions — University of Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, Banaras Hindu University, and University of Hyderabad — under the IoE scheme this year.

See also:
IIT-Madras, IIT-Kharagpur, DU, Banaras Hindu University, University of Hyderabad gets ‘Institute of Eminence’ tag

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