Date: June 12, 2005
Publication: The Daily Pioneer
Note from the Editor
Vice-Chancellor, Shri Panjab Singh of Banaras Hindu University, gave a press interview, in which he discussed about university’s effort to grant IT an IIT status.
(Since the web link does not work properly, entire article is reproduced from google cashed below-courtesy Ranjeet Kumar-cse1998)
The Article
BHU will work for Purvanchal's development: V-C
Ramesh K Singh/ Varanasi
In an attempt to make the Banaras Hindu University a tool for overall development of Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh), Vice-Chancellor, BHU, Prof Panjab Singh is concentrating on a few selected priority areas so that the BHU can set an example and play a crucial role in the coming years to solve problems such as water scarcity and improving the condition of rainwater harvesting and health services in the region.
The institution is marching towards fulfilling the dreams of its founder and is seriously performing its duty for the society. "We want that all our technological achievements in the field of engineering, agriculture, science etc should reach the users," said Prof Singh, while talking to The Pioneer here on Wednesday evening.
"In this direction, the Vice-Chancellor said: "The university has selected some priority areas and it
will concentrate its energy and efforts to achieve the same. Even if I achieve 60-70 per cent progress in fulfilling the targets during my tenure, it will be an achievement as my successor would not need much efforts to get the same through," said the internationally famous agricultural scientist.
He said that the university had made positive efforts so that its Institute of Technology (IT) could get funds at par with the IITs. "At present, if an IIT is getting Rs 100 crore for its infrastructural
improvement and academic activities including research, Institute of Technology is getting just Rs
2-3 crore," he said.
"The Institute of Technology has presented its position before the Union Human Resources Development Ministry and it is expected that the Banaras Hindu University Institute of Technology will get the status of IIT soon," he said.
When asked how the Banaras Hindu University would give full autonomy to its institution in such case, Prof. Singh replied that he believed that various institutes, faculties and colleges should have autonomy to make progress on expected and targeted lines and goals. "Autonomy is good for an institute's health," he said.
"Health is our other priority," said Prof Singh. He said that he had asked the authorities of the
Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) to prepare a blueprint on which the Union Ministry of Human
Resources Development, Health Ministry and Planning Commission could be approached so that the IMS could get the status and funds equivalent to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
"There is no doubt that Sir Sundarlal Hospital of IMS is the lifeline and only hope for thousands of poor patients not only of eastern Uttar Pradesh but also in adjoining states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh," he said. He said that his priority would be to look into the matter so that the hospital could serve the people in this vast region.
Apart from his hopes and plans for upgradation of these two institutes of the Banaras Hindu University, Prof Singh has an ambitious plan to help the farmers through the Institute of Agricultural Sciences. Once the plan is implemented, the farmers will be able to improve their farm production, improve their economic condition by selecting cash crops and medicinal farming.
Banaras Hindu University has a huge 2800-acre Barkachha Farm in Mirzapur, which is much bigger than the Banaras Hindu University campus, Asia's biggest university which has a campus on 1300 acres of land.
Recently, Prof Singh along with senior university agricultural scientists and others visited the place.
"We want to make it a potential hub for educational and entrepreneurship training programmes ranging from six months to one year so that the youths of the region can become self-reliant," he said.
The university has chalked out a plan to make this farm fertile and a big source of income for running various programmes.