Perform or perish, Smriti tells faculties of IITs

HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Friday sent out a tough message to faculties in the IITs, saying action will be taken against those who were slack in their work.

She was addressing students and faculties of the IIT-Delhi at an event organised on the campus. “We will disabilitate (sic) those teachers who do not take interest in their students,” she said, adding that standards of the premier technical institutes have to be maintained as parents send their wards to study in IITs with very high hopes.

The minister, however, noted that many of the faculties of the IITs put extra efforts to help students lagging in academics. She described such teachers as “unsung heroes” and expressed her deep gratitude towards their efforts and commitments. “You are unsung heroes of the Indian education system. My hearty thanks to you,” she said.

Smriti told the students about the IIT council’s decision to waive the tuition fee of students coming from economically weaker sections and special students. She also told the students about a special scheme, ‘Udaan’, being implemented by the Central Board of Secondary Education to support girls belonging to economically weaker section in preparation of Joint Entrance Examination, conducted in two parts for admissions to centrally-funded technical institutes, including IITs.

The minister asked the students to bring it to her knowledge if they come across a student who could be provided support under ‘Udaan’ or other schemes of the government.

“At the top level, we are trying for innovative strategy to help students. It is my request to you that if you come to know about a disabled student or a girl belonging to an economically weaker section, do reach us so that we provide adequate support to enable them realise their dream,” she said. Of the total 300 girls supported under the ‘Udaan’ scheme last year, as many as 140 cracked the JEE Main, she said.

A similar programme is being implemented in Navodaya Vidyalaya Schools. “We had 100% results at our Bengaluru and Pune centres.

Irani, who visited IIT-Delhi to inaugurate a new teaching-learning complex built inside, also made a surprise visit to hostels.

She observed there was no adequate facility for the students in the summer, prompting the director of the institute to commit installation of air coolers and cool drinking water facilities in all the hostels. During her interaction with students, she asked them to let her know if they want more facilities in their hostels.