Faculty: Seek central univ status for ICT to retain autonomy

Mumbai: Amid a proposal to convert Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) into a state technological university, faculty members have written to the board of governors suggesting that elevation to a central university should, instead, be sought.They claimed that once ICT is brought under the state legislation framework, uniformity will prevail and its autonomy will be curtailed. Citing examples of state universities getting central status in the past, they said ICT is uniquely positioned to seek such an elevation.Meanwhile, former ICT vice-chancellor G D Yadav raised concerns over the exclusion of govt-owned deemed-to-be universities from flagship funding programmes. Addressing senior govt officials on an online platform, he called the policy retrograde and difficult to justify.Yadav said excluding ICT from several national flagship programmes undermines fairness and national interest. "[ICT] has consistently maintained an all-India character since its inception, historically allocating 30% of its seats to students from across the country. Its alumni include M M Sharma, K Anji Reddy, R A Mashelkar and A V Rama Rao, among others... The institution has produced 19 Padma awardees, Fellows of the Royal Society, Fellows of the US National Academy of Engineering, numerous Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar laureates, CSIR laboratory directors, DG, Chairman AEC and over 850 first-generation entrepreneurs."TOI had earlier reported that ICT is not being considered for state and central funding due to its deemed-to-be status and it, therefore, wants to shed the tag but retain the autonomy.