Government Taking Steps To Check Brain Drain Problem: Prakash Javadekar
Acknowledging the problem of brain drain, the government today said it is taking steps to check the problem, including by offering scholarships to the top 500 students. The government is also coming up with the plans to reform the engineering sector, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said in the Lok Sabha while replying to a debate on a bill that grants the status of national importance to the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) at Tirupati and Berhampur.
The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016, which seeks to amend the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research Act, 2007 (NITSER Act), was later passed by the Lok Sabha.
Javadekar, while speaking about a host of issues related to education, accepted that there was a problem of brain drain in the country.
As part of measures to check it, he said 500 top students of the country are being offered Rs 75,000 as scholarship under PM Scholarship Scheme.
"We have started this and this will put a check on the brain drain and help the country in preserving its talent," the HRD minister said.
Talking about the engineering education, he said many colleges had produced engineers who were not employable as they lacked skills.
Around 400 such engineering colleges were closed down as they were not good, he said, adding, "the Bad will go but the good will remain in the system."
He said the government is coming up with the plans to reform the engineering sector.
P P Chakrabarti of IIT Kharagpur has submitted the report with regard to changes in the engineering sector and given some suggestions which includes early beginning of the counselling and review of the course.
"This year there will no vacancy in NIT. It is important we will do it," he said.
The government is also making efforts to improve the quality of institutes, Javadekar said after the debate in which several members voiced concern over the quality of education.
The minister acknowledged that the quality of education in the country was not up to the mark and there was a need to improve it.
"The ranking of institutes will improve with the improvement in the quality," he said.
In a bid to improve the quality of eduction, he said that a number of professors from overseas had been invited to India and this year around 600 professors from abroad were likely to visit the country.
Underlining the need for high quality inventions in the country, Javadekar said around 400 start-ups have been launched by IIT students in their hostel rooms.
"The nation will progress if there is research," he said.
Talking about the bill, the minister said the changes will enable two institutes -- one at Berhampur and the other at Tirupati -- to be governed by the legislation.
With the passage of the Bill, the number of Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) will go up to seven from existing five, he said.
The NITSER Act declares certain institutions of technology, science education and research as Institutes of National Importance and provides for research, training and dissemination of knowledge in these institutions.
Every year, the gudget for all IISERs is Rs 900 crore while it is Rs 300 crore for Indian Institute of Science.
"Every effort is made to ensure adequate funds are available to various centre of excellence and there will not be any shortage of funds for them," he said.
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Education News(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)