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In
the last week Hon'ble Union Minister for
Fertilizers and Chemicals and Steel Sri Ram
Vilas Paswan came to Japan on an official visit
with delegations. I requested him to spare some
time to discuss issue of an IISER (Indian
Institute of Science for Education and Research)
for Bihar. Fortunately, despite his very hectic
schedule, he agreed and I got time and met him
on July 13, 2006 in the late night at Four
Seasons Hotel in Tokyo.
 The
matter on which I drawn his attention is related
with opening an IISER or NISc (National
Institute of Science) in Bihar. The issue of
NISc is related with former NDA led government
which announced to open four NIScs, at
Allahabad, Chennai, Orissa and Pune, across the
country. Unfortunately, at none of the above
places NISc came into the physical existence and
government also changed. The current UPA led
government has announced to open IISER (may be
in place of NISc) in the country and till today
two IISERs have been brought into functional
status at Kolkata and Pune. Other places likely
to get IISER are Chandigarh, Kanpur and Orissa.
Unfortunately, Bihar has not been blessed with
IISER despite its suitability. Regarding this I
gave him a 21-page presentation pointing out the
need of IISER in Bihar and prevailing disparity
in distribution of national educational
institutes and central budget for the technical
education. Such disparities have been pointed
out recently by the India Science report.
Following were the points raised in the
application
1. The current central government has announced
to set up Indian Institute of Science for
Education and Research (IISER) at Kolkata, Pune
and Chandigarh. It seems that aims of IISER are
similar to that of NISc, however, there is no
such announcements by the government. But Bihar
is again not in the list of states blessed with
IISER. Applications regarding this have been
sent to different authorities. On July 11, 2006,
hon'ble PM has also inaugurated IISER at
Kolkata.
2. It will be not out of place to mention that
while opening such institutes union government
is overlooking the matter of regional imbalance
in the distribution of higher educational
institutes as well as central funds across the
country as pointed out in the India Science
report 2005. However, hon'ble PM has shown his
deep concern on the matter of such regional
imbalances.
3. Bihar is deserted of national educational
institutes. In the name of national institute,
Bihar has a National Institute of Technology
which is in infancy. It is well-known that in
Bihar there is not a single institution like
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian
Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institute
of Information Technology (IIIT), Indian
Statistical Institute (ISI), Indian Institute of
Science (IISc), Research laboratories of Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),
Laboratory of Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO), Central University or other
institutes of national and international
reputes. List of institutes of national repute
can be seen at
here.
4. As per India Science Report 2005, the number
of Bihari students migrating to other states for
the higher studies in science may be somewhere
less than 0.6%. This happens due to imbalance in
distribution of such institutes. Getting higher
education outside is costlier and every aspirant
cannot afford it despite his/her will to
continue higher education in science. Such
migration of student also leads to the
development of infrastructure to states where
they study. The establishment of such an
institute will increase percentage of students
from Bihar seeking higher education in science.
The unavailability of institutes like IISER of
higher education and research also forbid
students from other parts of the country to
immigrate here for education. This dispels Bihar
from national and international educational
streams and state remains known for its ugly
faces to the rest the country.
5. Bihar shares higher percentage of
non-scientific and technical workforce of the
country. In the India Science Report, Bihar
comes under BIMARU group of states and keeps
8.9% of non scientific and non-technical
workforce of the country.
6. While addressing joint session of the
legislatures of Bihar and also Bihar Chamber of
Commerce in March, 2006, hon'ble president has
also emphasized the need establishment of IISER,
IIT like institutes in his10-points prescription
to develop Bihar. In light of the same I have
talked with hon'ble union minister for S&T,
through BBC on April 2, 2006, who also opined
that in Bihar such institute must be open.
7. The benefits of such institutes in locality
are numerous but Bihar remains unaware of such
benefits. Institute like IISER will help in
improving condition of the local universities
and create awareness for science education and
research among teachers and students. It will
accelerate process of industrialization.
Establishment of IISER in Bihar will be a step
towards minimization of prevailing regional
imbalance in the distribution of educational
institutes across the country.
8. Big institutions act like a magnet which can
keep learned people of the society in the
society. This will control, to some extent,
internal as well as external brain drain.
Lacking of this, Bihar is depleted of its own
skilled human resources as well as of their
contributions. This effects development of Bihar
reciprocally.
9. Establishment of IISER in Bihar is a big
political decision. Many states are in the race
for it and of course government will open
limited number of IISERs. Unfortunately, this
issue for Bihar has not gained serious political
support and attention yet. If Bihar gets an
IISER, it will be a milestone in the history of
scientific developments in Bihar. I also let him
know about my past applications and my very
recent developments with BiharBrains (www.biharbrains.com)
on this issue.
The hon'ble minister went through every point
and have discussed in details. He was surprised
to know why this matter has not been raised yet
despite there are many ministers from Bihar
including MHRD. He gave very positive promise.
He will talk with hon'ble PM on his return and
said that he will bring an IISER in Bihar. He
also talked about the opening of National
Institute of Pharmaceutical education and
Research at Hajipur. Of course that is a big
gift to Bihar which would not have come without
his effort. I hope hon'ble minister will not
make us hopeless on the issue of IISER too.
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