Demand for Statement from Prime Minister assuring Autonomy for IIT System

It is of grave concern to us- the alumni, the students, the faculty and well-wishers of IITs- that the Human Resources Ministry may be making moves to compromise the autonomy of IIT System. The greatest educational institutions of India- IITs, IIMs and other schools and universities- have reached great milestones including iternational recognition as institutes of repute. The bedrock principle on which this greatness has been achieved is autonomy in deciding how to conduct research and how to teach. This also requires ability to raise and spend funds directly without interference.

If you compare the insitutions in India that are closely under Government control, they have not fared as well as these autonomous institutes (deemed Universities). The lesson is simple- IITs (and IIMs) need more autonomy not less. Government support is welcome but not at the cost of compromising the system built on merit and professionalism without much undue interference from politics.

If India wants to achieve greatness and have hundreds of Universities produce hundreds of thousands of graduates of IIT quality- we need to replicate the IIT model, not tinker with it, not change it, not ruin it.
So, please Mr Prime Minister, will you kindly issue a statement re-assuring us that the IIT System will remain autonomous, and gain more autonomy and not less.