IIM-A says no to fee cut, but is open to talks

[Spiderman]

IIM-A says no to fee cut, but is open to talks

PTI[ SATURDAY, APRIL 03, 2004 04:04:57 PM ]


AHMEDABAD: A day after resolving to hold dialogue with the Union HRD ministry over the controversial fee-cut and autonomy issue, IIM (Ahmedabad) board on Saturday said it would maintain a "status quo" in its current fee structure till further discussions are held.



"After detailed discussion with the board members it was decided that a status quo would be maintained in the fees for the fresh batch of students and detailed dialogue would be initiated with the HRD ministry," Chairman of IIM-A board of Governors and Infosys mentor N R Narayana Murthy told reporters after the crucial meeting today.



Murthy did not wish to elaborate on the PIL filed in the Supreme Court by alumni members and said it was not discussed today but would be looked into during talks with the ministry.



He said the "fees of Rs 1.58 lakh per annum would remain the same for the fresh batch and based on the discussions with the HRD Ministry the board will consider revision. We will revise the fee if the need arises but the best thing to do at this point of time would maintin a status quo".



Murthy reiterated the need to create a "positive" atmosphere for holding dialogue with the HRD Ministry to come to some "mutually acceptable" solution to the vexed issue.



"I don't know the outcome but there is a tremendous enthusiasm among members to come to some win-win solution", Murthy said replying to a question.



The chairman said it is not "time to increase the confusion but time to maintain a status quo and the whole rationale of today's dicussion was that a status quo be maiantained."



When asked till when would the status quo be maintained, he said, "It is a bilateral discusssion to be held and there are elections and other important things at present".



Prof. Bakul Dholakia said the admission committee would discuss further on the exact kind of packages that would be given to students for the Need Based Scholarships (NBS).



"These packages would be prepared right from the time the forms begin to be filled and by the first week of June we will know exactly how many scholarships would be there and what is the amount", he added.



Meanwhile, in New Delhi Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said he would study the resolution adopted by the Indian Institute of Management, Society, Ahmedabad, to initiate dialogue with his ministry on the fee cut issue and then comment on it.



"I have just come back from Allahabad and am not aware of the various aspects of the resolution. I will study the document before commenting on it," he told reporters here.