Allowing the new Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) to pay more to the faculty from their own resources, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday assured them that he would approach the Cabinet for relaxation in providing the Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) scale to 40 per cent of the professors of the sanctioned strength.
The Minister's assurance came at a meeting he had with the directors of the new IITs. They drew his attention to the problems they faced in hiring experienced faculty.
Importantly, they pointed out that they were unable to implement the HAG scale notification, as some of the institutes did not have the critical number of professors. Citing the example of IIT-Gandhi Nagar, which had only two professors at present, they said the order could not be implemented and experienced teachers were reluctant to join for low salary.
Keeping these issues in mind, Mr. Sibal said like the Indian Institutes of Management, the IITs could also top up the salaries of the faculty from their resources. He would also take up with the Home Minister the issue related to the clearance required under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act for all endowments received by the institutions from abroad.
The new directors will meet officials of the State governments and Ministries concerned here next month to sort out issues related to granting clearance for lands allotted to set up the institutions and the cost escalation for infrastructure development.
The new IITs are coming up in Hyderabad, Ropar, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Indore, Rajasthan, Mandi and Gandhi Nagar.
