The boards of some of the IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, have insisted on it becoming economically independent and funding its own expansion through internal resources— class sizes were gradually being increased before the OBC reservation and new long term programs have been established. Going with a handout to the government is what their board explicitly forbids. The government, by the way, has not provided all the funds requested for OBC expansion, which was part of the deal for speedy implementation of the new reservation policy. The institutes however stay committed to implementation as planned.  

The recommendations of the report effectively say that the way to save the IIMs is to inject them with more of the same virus that got them diseased to begin with. And in this day and age of liberalisation, and more so, with the abysmal track record of the HRD ministry in running several great universities to the ground, the recommendations in this report are low on both intellect and integrity. 

What’s the solution? Give real governance a chance. Let the HRD mandarins not talk directly to IIM directors but let them function through the board. Lay out output expectations from the institutes and as shareholders do, let HRD as a stakeholder demand that the board gets tough and monitors them and to drive performance. There is a good proposal, on accountability and autonomy of IIMs submitted by IIM Ahmedabad, under the guidance of its then-chairman Shri Narayanamurthy lying in the HRD ministry for over three years, unacknowledged and not responded to. Let’s implement that.  

... contd.