Government cuts down funds to IIITs

HYDERABAD: The International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), set up by former chief minister Y S Rajashekhar Reddy, is facing a massive fund crunch with authorities slashing its budget by nearly half to Rs 350 crore from Rs 600 crore for the academic year 2013-14.
Ironically, the cut has come at a time when the authorities are planning to develop infrastructure at the three institutes being run under the aegis of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technology."There are six departments in the IITs, teaching six different streams of engineering. Each of these departments requires separate infrastructure facilities which are yet to be developed," said a senior official of the university.
This is not the first time the institutions are facing government's apathy. Just a year after they came into being, and after the death of YSR, the institutes were forced to cut down their seat strength from 6.000 to 3,000. The government has also slashed the funds by 40% in 2010. "At the beginning, the effort to sideline the institutes was part of the larger goal of ignoring all YSR projects. But now, the government does not seem to have any intention of keeping the IIITs alive," said a source.
The IIITs located in Nuzvid, Basar and Idupulapaya were set up by YSR to help the rural students get access to quality education. In the initial days, only students who have studied in rural schools were eligible for admissions in these three institutions which offer a six-year integrated B Tech course. However, successive governments diluted the objectives by offering some seats to students from urban background as well.
Meanwhile, at a press meet held here on Thursday, the IIIT authorities announced the commencement of admission process for the year 2013-14. "This year, the fee payment can be made either through a DD or internet banking or an SBH challan," said R V Rajkumar, vice-chancellor, RGUKT. Online applications will be available from June 25 and last date for submitting the application is July 17, he said.
The merit list will be out on July 8 and counselling for special categories will be held on July 19 and 20. Counselling for regular candidates will be conducted on July 19 to 20. Counselling for waiting list candidates will be held on July 28, with classes commencing from July 29.