Teachers protest paralyse BESU

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, February 13, 2007

The classrooms at Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) remained empty on Tuesday with all the teachers on mass casual leave in protest against the delay in declaring the university as an Institute of National Importance (INI).
The deadline for the submission of the 11th five-year plan is February 28, after which there will be no scope for BESU or any of the other six shortlisted institutions to try for INI status.
“It would have been the best gift from the government during our 150-year celebration. We are the oldest, one of the most respected and at the same time most neglected engineering institute in India. If the Centre does not take a decision now, the plan of declaring the university as an INI will be shelved forever and we cannot let that happen,” said professor N.R. Bandopadhyay of School of Material Science.
The Bengal Engineering and Science University Teachers Association (BESUTA) plans to carry on its movement and stay away from classes on Wednesday. The teachers would also gherao vice-chancellor N.N. Banerjea’s office. “We will urge our vice-chancellor to meet higher education minister Sudarshan Roychoudhuri and discuss the matter. We want something concrete from either the state or the Centre,” Bandopadhyay said.
The teachers are also planning to rope in students, non-teaching staff and alumni for the movement.
Though the state government had initially not been interested in the human resources ministry’s plans of upgrading BESU to an INI. But the minister later agreed to the idea with two riders — admission would initially be through the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) where students from all over the country would be able to appear and the administration of the university will be participatory in nature.
The state government gives Rs 12 crore to the university annually where as BESU has to raise Rs 8 crore from its own research and consultancy work. “We will have to voice our protest against the neglect and we want to meet the higher education minister to discuss the issue. If required, we will go to the MHRD too,” said a teacher.
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