Complete autonomy to IIMs soon: Minister

To enable them carry out more qualitative works

A view of the new permanent campus at Indian Institute of Management in Tiruchi which was inaugurated by Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, through video conference from New Delhi on Monday.

The premier Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) would soon be granted complete and real autonomy to enable them carry out more qualitative works, Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar said on Monday.

The Central government had brought in a new IIM Bill to grant complete autonomy to these institutes, the Minister said after declaring open the permanent campus of IIM, Tiruchi, through video-conference from New Delhi.

Exuding confidence that the bill would be cleared in the Parliament by next week, the Minister said it would enable students admitted in these institutes to get a master degree instead of postgraduate diplomas. The IIMs would be vested with powers to grant degrees through this Bill, the Minister said.

The premier management institutes, henceforth, need not have to come to the Human Resource Development Ministry seeking assistance. He called upon the IIMs to frame their own five-year plans, besides coming out with academic and research plans and go ahead with them.

Autonomy would not only bring in more accountability but also facilitate more qualitative works in these institutes without any hindrance and interference, Mr. Javadekar said.

Stating that efforts for expansion of quality education were being made, the Minister said the Central government had opened seven new IIMs; six new Indian Institutes of Technology, a new Indian Institute of Information Technology, a new National Institute of Technology, besides more than 104 new Kendriya Vidyalayas and Central Schools, besides 62 Navodaya Schools across the country.

The Central government had revised its estimate and was fully funding for the infrastructure of IIM, Tiruchi, he said adding that the latest estimate was ₹772 crore for this institute.

Noting that the people of the country were voting for progress coming out of religious and caste barriers, the Minister called upon the IIMs across the country to carry out relevant projects and studies pertaining to public behavioural changes across the country.

Prafulla Agnihotri, Director, IIM, Tiruchi, and faculty members of the institute participated in the function.