IIM Bill 2015 must not be used as micro-management tool: IIMA

Government should "oversee" educational institutions from a distance and the proposed IIM Bill 2015 must not be used as a tool for "micro-management" of Indian Institutes of Management in the country, IIM-Ahmedabad director Ashish Nanda said here today.
"Micro-management is not a good practice," Nanda told reporters at the institute.
IIM Bill 2015 has been put under discussion and is going to take the shape of IIM Act 2015 after nod from Parliament.
When asked if he meant 'interference' by saying micro-management, Nanda smiled and nodded his head.
"We have downloaded the draft bill from the website where it is put for public opinion. The government has also talked with us and invited our views before finalising the bill. I think that it is the implementation where the crux of the bill lies," Nanda said.

"My view, and of most people at IIMA, (is that) government can be the 'wise overseer' of an institution from a distance. They should look into how education institutions are doing. If they are doing well then support them. If not then question them. From a distance, government should oversee how we are doing," he said.

"....But micro-management is never good. If that is done, people working in institutions may feel less empowered. If government uses the bill to encourage the institutions to learn from each other and share knowledge then it is good news," the director added.
The Bill proposes to grant statutory status to thirteen existing IIMs, including the IIM-A.

Nanda said the proposed bill has a provision under which government is planning to form a coordination body, adding, it does not augur well if such body is used for centralisation of power.
"(If) the coordination body, which they are setting up, is used to centralise power then it is bad. Autonomy is necessary for providing quality education, for trying new things and for innovation. You should allow it," he said.
"Otherwise, you will end up with people not taking responsibility for institution. If the coordination body is used for micro-management, for how IIMs are operated, then it's a bad news," he said, adding that IIMA will submit its views on the bill to government in coming days before the set deadline of June 24.

Nanda also expressed gratitude for two IIMA alumni -- P P Gupta, Managing Director of Techno Electric & Engineering Co. Ltd, and IIFL chairman Nirmal Jain -- for contributing Rs 8 crore for upgrading of infrastructure and building of a new swimming pool.