Four IIMs to have amended MoAs to be fully autonomous
The IIMs at Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Indore and Kozhikode would
be among the first four to have amended Memoranda of Association that would make
them fully autonomous in all respects ranging from appointing Directors to setting
up of campuses and making salaries flexible.
The HRD ministry has referred the amended MoAs of the four IIMs to the Law Ministry
for vetting. HRD has also sought the views of the Finance Ministry. The approved
MoAs would then be adopted by the Board of Governors of the IIMs ushering in the
change.
But since all new IIMs and few old ones are still fully dependent on the Government
for funding, the amendment in MoA could be a limited exercise in the long run. The
Law Ministry is examining if there is an equal measure of autonomy and accountability
in the amended MoAs. On the responsibility side, the teachers would be mandated
to work for 160 hours and annual targets would be set for them.
The amendment in MoAs is a follow-up exercise after the Government agreed last year
with most of the recommendations made by three separate committees headed by RC
Bhargava, Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIM-Ranchi, Ajit Balakrishnan, Chairman
of IIM-Calcutta and Hari S. Bhartia, Chairman of IIM-Indore.
The IIMs will suggest three names of Directors to the Government from which one
will be chosen. Presently, the HRD Ministry issues advertisement for the post of
Director.
The IIMs would also be free to fix the salary of performing faculty members that
could match global standards. But this would be done through financial resources
organized by the institutes themselves. And the IIMs would be free to recruit foreign
faculty. The institutes will also be free to dispose of property not acquired through
funds provided by the HRD ministry and manage funds generated by them on their own.
IIMs have been allowed to bring down the number of Board members to 14. The composition
of the Board of Governors would be changed so that the Government, faculty and alumni
have adequate representation.
Courtesy: Times of India
