CNR Rao says search committee should select IIT directors

India's top scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee, CNR Rao questions human resource development ministry's selection process for directors of Indian Institute of Technology and insisted on the need for an 'eminent' search committee for selecting them. Speaking at the technology fest at IIT Roorkee, the scientist expressed concern over the way science and technology sector has been neglected by the government.

Criticising the manner in which the government is going ahead with the selection process of IIT directors, Rao said, "The way the government is conducting the selection process, anybody with a PhD degree will aspire to become one. We need a search committee with people who are unblemished and can work selflessly."

Rao has been insisting on scrapping the Search and Select Process for selecting the director and insists on going back to the old system, where a search committee comprising of stakeholders from technology institutes and the ministry would nominate scholars to head the premium institute.

Without naming the HRD minister Smriti Irani, Rao went on to question her credentials. "A mediocre man will choose people better than them, but will choose more mediocre people. Bright people are not wanted," he said.
Speaking to the students on the contribution of Rabindranath Tagore, Rao expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which he has been neglected by the ministry.

Addressing the students, Rao also raised concerns over the manner in which science and technology and education has been neglected by the current government. "Both education and science and technology budgets have been cut by this government. The world is moving very fast and we will not be able to match the pace," said Rao.

In the National Education Policy 1986, it was recommended that education should get six percent from the GDP share. "But we have only got two percent of GDP share for education and 0.9 percent for science and technology," said Rao.

Speaking along the sidelines of the tech fast, the scientist said that he had great hopes from prime minister Modi said, "He pays attention, but he has a lot of things to do. I hope the government gives more importance to science and technology." The scientist also informed that he had written to the Prime Minister raising several concerns, but is yet to here from his office.