John Wilbert
Port Blair, Mar 06: On 1st March 2018, some students had carried out demonstration in front of the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology gate for redressal of their demands but now the authorities have termed such demonstration as ‘unjustified’.
Meanwhile, in a circular issued on 5th March the Deen (SA) said that most of these demands were discussed in the student council and the decisions were mailed to all the members of the council.
It added that in the first week of Feb, a student organization ABVP submitted the similar demands which were discussed on 19th Feb and minutes signed by both the parties. However it was unfortunate that few students present in the ABVP meeting resorted to demonstration on 1st March without giving any representation thereby, the said demonstration is unjustified.
“Further during the demonstration the students blocked both the gates causing inconvenience to faculty members as well as to other students and residents staying in the campus which is totally an unlawful activity. With a view to pacify the students to give up this unlawful approach, SDM South Andaman District came for discussion and gave some assurance. Accordingly the demonstration by the students was called off. It has now been observed that few students have again abstained from attending classes and assembled opposite to new Academic block in the campus premises,” the circular added.
Now the Deen (SA) has informed that such unlawful demonstration and abstaining from classes is an illegal activity and calls for appropriate action. All the students have now been advised to ensure conducive atmosphere in the campus and attend the classes.
“Student’s grievances if any should be submitted to the elected student council for re-dressal. The council meeting shall be organised as and when request is received. The students are once again advised not to abstain from classes,” the circular added.
When Contacted the Principal of DBRAIT, Dr. Utpal Sharma agreed to reply to all points raised by Andaman Sheekha in writing.
In his reply regarding filling of vacant posts of Professors and non teaching staff, he wrote that the proposal for filling the vacant post of Profs and Associate Profs has been taken up with the UPSC. The UPSC observed certain defects in the RR and the RR has now been sent to MHRD for amendment on 6th Feb 2018. The institute shall follow up with MHRD to expedite the approval. The selection process for 3 posts of Asst professors has been completed and the incumbent shall be joining shortly.
Vacant post of non-teaching staff (3 nos) is being filled and vacancy notice has been published. The entire process shall be completed by June 2018.
Regarding students allegations of teaching of core subjects by non-regular faculty, the Principal added that most of the core subjects are taught by regular faculty supplemented by qualified guest faculty as per AICTE norms.
Other points raised by Students and the replies of the principal are as followed.
Demand : Remove self created FGA, K&ST and TFJ subjects and give full emphasis on prescribed subjects of Pondicherry University curriculum.
Reply: Focus Group Activity (FGA) and Tod Fod Jod (TFJ) are the concepts which are required to be practiced for making students confident of handling technical problems. These practices have been appreciated by National Board of Accreditation (NBA). However, students can come out with alternative solutions for improving the effectiveness.
Demand: Reduce college timing so that students could get time for self study.
Reply: The institute follows AICTE guidelines which stipulates 40 hours of classroom/student centric activity per week.
Demand: Appoint a regular, qualified, experienced, trained person having good industrial exposure as a TPO (training and placement officer) so that good core companies should come to the campus for our butter Placements.
Reply: A qualified teaching faculty member has been given additional responsibility for discharging the duties of Training & Placement Cell. The students are advised to raise specific issues where assistance is required
Demand: Separate engineering campus for the better future of student of B. Tech and all B. Tech students should be allowed to sit in newly constructed B. Tech block.
Reply: The polytechnic college has been upgraded based on the recommendation of the Expert Committee constituted by MHA under the direction of Hon’ble High Court in a PIL matter. The expert committee recommended that :-
• At present Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Govt. Polytechnic offers five Diploma programmes and two Maritime Courses and the Second Govt. Polytechnic offers 2 diploma programmes. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Govt. Polytechnic can be up-graded to offer degree courses in such areas as Computer Engineering & IT and Electronics & Communication Engineering. Other degree, diploma and short term training programmes relevant to the regional needs be introduced in a phased manner depending on man power requirements.
• The existing academic and governance model of centrally funded Sant Longwal Institute of Technology (SLIET) and North East Regional Institute of Technology (NERIST) may be adopted with suitable region – specific modifications.
• Upgrading of infrastructure in related areas and creation of adequate post of faculty and support staff to be undertaken to meet the requirements of AICTE.
This has been accepted by Hon’ble High Court and accordingly MHRD has approved the up-gradation with coexistence the diploma, and which is in line with SLIET/NIERIST model. Such models are very helpful in developing good skill and knowledge among the engineers. All the labs are well equipped. However, in the event of any discrepancy the students may raise the issue.
Demand: The project evaluation, topic selection and project review is to be done by project guides and subject experts only not by any unauthorized person including principal, etc.
Reply: The project reviews are done by authorised persons for ensuring that project made by the students have some real time usage.
Demand: Research/project labs with internet facilities should be provided in the campus.
Reply: The Internet will be made available as and when required in the Research/Project labs
Demand: All the directions / recommendations of affiliating university I, e Pondicherry University should be
implemented, without fail, for the betterment of the B. TECH students.
Reply: Most of the recommendations of the university has been attended to. In-case there are any specific issues, the students may bring out the same.
Demand: Stop indulging the students in non-academic and irrelevant activities like CR register, white washing of the classes, collecting money from the students under SOCH, etc.
Reply: The Class Monitoring register is an initiative taken by the institution which empowers the students and ensures transparency in teaching apart from accountability of teaching staff.
Demand: Give more importance to NSS rather than SOCH activities and initiate other centrally Funded schemes like NCC, Youth Red Cross (YRC), Red Ribbon Club (RRC), Rangers and Rovers under Bharat scouts and Guides, etc.
Reply: NSS is carried out during non-college hours whereas SOCH activity are taken up in more structured manner which include visiting old age home, beach cleaning, well cleaning, water quality testing etc. students are free to form any club for improving their soft skills, attitude and commitment.
