Slashing seats in IIITs unwarranted: Dr. JP

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said here today that the State Government decision to slash the number of seats in IIITs from 6000 to 3000 reflected its “penny-wise pound-foolish fiscal management”.

Talking to the media, Dr. JP pointed out that continuance of seats would impose a burden of mere Rs.24 crore a year on the Government. The IIITs are meant to provide job-oriented technological skills to bright students from rural areas. Because of its skewed priorities and lack of sincerity, the Government has decided to axe the seats much to the detriment of the younger generation.

What is more galling is, Dr. JP said, that the harmful decision has been taken by a Government which in the name of ‘Jalayagnam’ is building projects even without water and turning a blind eye to monumental corruption. He hoped that the wise Chief Minister would reverse the decision.

On the Government decision to appoint ombudsmen to go into irregularities in NREGS implementation, Dr. JP said the proposed setup would not serve the purpose. First, a sitting fee of Rs.500 a day would not attract talent. Secondly the proposed ombudsmen’s powers are limited to inquire into irregularities thrown up by social audit.

Instead, ombudsmen should be appointed to go into allegations of corruption and irregularities in all schemes including the NREGS by local governments. After all, each district is spending Rs.2000 crore a year under various schemes.

The ombudsmen should be autonomous and powerful to take action on their own against guilty elected public representatives and employees.

On the CBI catching Medical Council Chairman red-handed as he accepted a Rs.2-crore bribe, Dr. JP recalled he had drawn the Prime Minister’s attention to corruption in the grant of medical colleges. What has been detected is merely the tip of the iceberg.

Although thousands of crores of rupees changed hands in the medical education sector, the country has not been able to produce competent doctors. A solution lies in awarding degrees only if medical students pass an examination like the one conducted for chartered accountants on completion of formal education.