IIT, IIM faculty's battle for 100% raise

Kolkata: Professors of the country's two of the most coveted institutions, the IITs and IIMs seem to be on a collision course with the government.

To give a final shape to their joint stand on the HRD ministry's circular on pay and service norms, the National Faculty Federation of IITs will meet in Kolkata on Monday.

They are demanding a 100 per cent pay hike and more autonomy, the demands, which have been struck down by the Human Resource Development Ministry.

Convenor of the IIT faculty federation said the future strategy will be finalised in Monday's meeting.

September 19, the forum drafted an open letter to HRD Minister Kapil Sibal voicing their disappointment over the revised HRD circular not addressing the basic concern of pay hike.

According to the new rules, IITs, and IIMs can recruit a professor only if the person has taught at least four years as an associate professor in these institutes.

The faculty federation is of the opinion that this will be a major hindrance in recruiting highly qualified scientists from research laboratories and industries.