We have suggested that the institute be called IIT-BHU. This is to reflect the emotional ties to our university and our desire to continue collaborating with other faculties of Science, Medicine, Law, Management and Agriculture. The ministry however, is said to be considering IIT-Varanasi as the new name.
How does IT-BHU stand to gain from the conversion?
While financial support remains one of the most important benefits, it will also help in recruitment of quality faculty and retention of the same. Because we were not an IIT, we were forced to appoint B.Tech graduates as faculty. The IIT tag will enable us to attract faculty members with a PhD qualification. Also, a lot of our faculty members quit to join the IITs. I am optimistic that with the IIT tag, we will be able to retain our faculty for a longer period.
What would be the academic benefits of the conversion?
We have always been at par with the IITs when it comes to academics. It's just that we never received the importance of being an institute of national importance because we were not an IIT. Even the government documents published by the Ministry of Human Resource Development does not give us any importance. The IIT status will help us secure grants to send our faculty abroad on research assignments. We will also get separate research grants that will help the institute.
Would you be implementing the SC/ST quota too? What amount of funding would you require for it?
We would be implementing the quota at our institute in a phased manner like any other IIT would be. We had proposed a budget of Rs 1,000 crore to the Anand Krishnan committee. This would have included the revamp of the classrooms, laboratories and hostels. As of now, we have not received any funds from the government and are using our own resources to put the required infrastructure in place.
