Much talked IIM Bill made its way to the Cabinet

The much discussed IIM bill has been finally presented to the cabinet for its approval. The bill will get tabled in the monsoon session of the Parliament and will most probably get a select or standing committee for a better look at it.

The HRD Ministry was in duel with the PMO on four of the contentious issues. The most pertinent of them all was the issue of autonomy. The HRD Ministry demanded that, like IITs, the IIMs should have the President as their visitor who will have the power to review their functioning. At this, the PMO reverted back saying, the board of governors should have the power to make changes and review the functioning of the IIMs. The HRD Ministry further argued that the suggested model by them has given results in IITs in the country, and finally the PMO got convinced by the ministry in this regard.

In other issues, the second most pertinent issue was the demand of HRD ministry to make the HRD Minister Officio head of the committee of IIMs.

The PMO declined it saying, the minister should not become the head of it. But, giving instance of IIT Council again, the ministry has ensured the IIMs that there will be no roadblock to their autonomy or present status of independent functioning. However, the ministry could not convince the PMO for forming the IIM boards. The PMO suggested that the board should have five of the 14 members from among the alumni, whereas the ministry wanted only three.

The PMO argued that there should be non-government voices present in the board, the HRD ministry finally agreed to incorporate five alumni members. They also agreed to the suggestion of PMO saying the IIMs need not to come to government for any change in regulation. The board of governors in the institute would now be able to approve regulations and have the final say.