Parliamentary approval to amendment act setting up new IITs

Parliament on Tuesday accorded approval to the Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016, to set new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in Tirupati, Palakkad, Goa, Dharwar, Bhilai, and Jammu with the Rajya Sabha passing the measure by voice vote.

The bill, which also seeks to bring the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad within the ambit of the Act, has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.

Responding to the debate on the bill in the upper house, Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said that all issues concerning the IITs in the country are being looked into and the government was committed to making them centre of excellence.

"There will be no deficit of infrastructure in the IITs," he said, adding that the government will provide all possible help to the institutions.

He also said that government was aware of shortage of faculty and steps were being taken to induct more and more good faculty members.

The minister also assured the house that there will be no interference from government in working of the IITs and students will be free to speak their minds on the campuses.

"Freedom on campuses, I'm all for it. I may not agree with your view but you have all the rights to make your point," he said, stressing that freedom of expression will not be curbed.

Javadekar also assured that students, who tend to drop out, will be encouraged to complete their studies.

On fee concern, he said that students from reserved categories and poor financial background don't have to pay a penny, and similarly interest free loans have been ensured for those who could pay later.

--IANS

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