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The absence of permanent directors at IIMs is holding back the development of the premier institutes. Most of the new and some old IIMs have been functioning without directors for over a year. According to the HRD Ministry, around 13 IIMs are functioning without full-time directors including IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIM Rohtak, IIM Udaipur and IIM Raipur.
The newest IIMs started sessions without directors. These include IIM Amritsar, IIM Nagpur, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Vishakhapatnam and IIM Sambalpur. Despite the ministry’s effort, these vacancies have not been filled. Experts say that interference and lack of incentives is the reason why the post of Directors are lying vacant.
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Following are the reasons why IIMs are functioning without full-term Directors:
- Remote location of Institutes, disincentives to research, restricted autonomy and poor salaries are the major reasons behind the delay in recruitment for full-time IIM Directors.
- Newer IIMs are dependent on government funding, therefore the institutes face political interference.
- Interim Directors state that they don’t feel free to make important decisions regarding recruitments and finance related matters.
- The increase in the number of IIMs is also being pointed out as one of the reasons behind the delay in the recruitment of full-time directors.
- Chairperson of IIM-Bangalore, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw states that hiring international candidates becomes tough as they have to cut down on their salary to work in India which is not the most attractive proposition.
- Lack of research opportunities at the administrative level is another reason that candidates shy away from jobs at new IIMs.
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Prafulla Agnihotri, Directory in-charge of IIM-Tiruchirappalli, said that there is a lot more pressure on the director of a new IIM as they have to initiate the growth of the institute. Unlike old IIMs that have their system in place, it is the responsibility of the director of new IIMs to build an organization that is self-dependent, added Agnihotri.
