Teachers of the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur have written to the chairperson of the institute’s board of governors to take steps for the urgent restoration of existing infrastructure like classrooms, hostels and laboratories.
They urged Tejaswini Ananth Kumar to take appropriate measures to fund the projects for infrastructure upgrade.
The teachers also sought safe and appropriate accommodation for all students, as mandated by the institute’s statute.
IIEST is reeling under a faculty crunch at a time when the student intake has registered a surge. The teachers have sought “establishing a dedicated recruitment cell for regular faculty recruitment to ensure a steady influx of academic talent”.
The letter signed by Tapendu Mandal, secretary of the teachers’ association, said: “It is with great concern that we are currently grappling with multifaceted issues at IIEST Shibpur. Resolving these issues requires significant efforts.”
In late November, the teachers at IIEST Shibpur wrote to the institute’s acting director, Parthasarathi Chakrabati, imploring him to redirect attention to more pressing matters like basic infrastructure and restoration of critical research facilities to ensure normal academic activities.
“Since the issues have not been addressed, we have now approached the board’s chairperson. The institute’s transition from BESU (Bengal Engineering and Science University) to IIEST was carried out to establish IIEST as one of the leading institutions of higher education. But the opposite has happened,” said Mandal.
Biplab Shikdar, the president of the teachers’ association, said proposals were pending for the development of new hostels and academic complexes. “But no steps have been taken.”
“The expenditure finance committee at the time of inception of the IIEST in 2014 drew a budget of around Rs 300 crore for the development of the new hostels, academic complex, auditorium and other facilities. But we hardly see any progress,” said Shikdar.
Many students now reside in paying guest accommodations in the vicinity of the campus though IIEST is a residential institution that is bound to offer hostel facilities to its students.
In early April, many teachers marched through the campus to protest against the absence of basic infrastructure and the lack of appropriate classrooms and laboratories.
The letter suggests that even basic upkeep is lacking in the institution.
The teachers have urged the board’s chairperson for the “removal of garbage and junk from spaces around academic and residential areas”.
Calls to Kumar on Wednesday went unanswered.
Biplab Shikdar, the president of the teachers’ association, said: “The chairperson in an email has agreed to meet the teachers in January.”