HRD Ministry must be ‘respectful’ to educationists, says Trinamool MP Bose

Concerned over political interference in education institutions, Trinamool Congress MP Sugata Bose said the HRD Ministry should be “respectful” to the country’s eminent scientists and those who are doing exception in education sector.

Referring to the resignation of IIT, Delhi Director RK Shevgaonkar, Bose said, “Government should be an enabler and not interfere in the autonomous functioning of these institutions. It is unfortunate that those bureaucrats who understand the education system are opting for transfer from the HRD ministry. I think we should deserve to know the reasons behind.”

On December 22, 2014, RK Shevgaonkar had resigned from his post, citing personal reasons. However, sources said Shevgaonkar was under pressure for being vocal on salary dues of a former IITD faculty member Subramaniam Swami who is now a BJP leader.

“Meddling and unwarranted interference by government in the affairs of educational institutions and advocated the need for respect to teachers and students. There should be a great deal of respect for students and teachers,” he said while participating in a discussion on Demands for Grants of the HRD Ministry.

On the context over mismanagement in the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), Bose, who himself is a historian, said, “Ideologues instead of scholars were being inducted into the ICHR. I would like to draw attention that unwarranted interferences by ideologues are hampering the quality of work in such institutions.”