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World Bank Grant: BIT Sindri's loss is BIT Mesra's gain
# Source: Calcutta Telegraph
Ranchi, Sept. 24: The loss of Jharkhand’s lone state-administered engineering cradle BIT-Sindri has come as a boon for two private engineering colleges of the state with BIT-Mesra and lesser known Cambridge Institute of Technology ready to reap the benefits of the second phase of the World Bank-assisted Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP).
BIT-Sindri, which managed to save face in the first phase of the World bank’s programme to rake in Rs 12 crore in 2006-07, has all but braced for losing out on Rs 15 crore worth of funds in the second phase due to an acute teacher shortage.
The teacher strength of BIT-Sindri after a recent selection of 13 recruits is set to increase from 43 to just below 50 per cent. However, the numbers still fall drastically short of the requisite 55 per cent, which is a crucial criterion to avail TEQIP funds.
“The lackadaisical attitude of the government has done BIT-Sindri in. They will not be able to avail to rake in funds in the second phase of TEQIP as the state has failed to ensure that at least 55 per cent of the teaching posts are filled up,” a government source said.
The state has already initiated the process of drafting a financial proposal to be sent to the cabinet earmarking Rs 22.5 crore for BIT-Mesra and Rs 4 crore for Tatisilwai-based Cambridge Institute of Technology.
Director of technical education Arun Kumar confirmed this The Telegraph, adding that the draft of the financial proposal was in its final stages and would be sent to the cabinet soon. Interestingly, he also added that the financial draft, which would be to the tune of Rs 52 crore, would also include funds meant for BIT-Sindri. But all hope is not lost the Sindri-cradle.
“However, under the present circumstances, the Centre will not release TEQIP phase II funds to BIT- Sindri until it fulfils certain minimum criterions and then approaches the Union HRD ministry,” Kumar said.
BIT-Sindri received Rs 12 crore in the first phase of TEQIP in 2006-07 while BIT-Mesra was granted an aid of Rs 18 crore. The two polytechnic institutes, on the other hand, received around Rs one crore each.
The Sindri cradle had recently upgraded its postgraduate, including MTech, and PhD courses. The cradle was expected to get Rs 22.5 crore in the second phase of TEQIP, under which Rs 2,000 crore is to be distributed among 200 institutes across the country.
The Sindri cradle has to pull up its socks before October 31 to be eligible for final selection.
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