The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi is surrounded by a controversy, yet again. The decision to invite yoga guru Baba Ramdev and an RSS affiliate to deliberate on a plan for the development of rural areas has costed the IIT its reputation and has turned the spotlight on the government’s agenda of saffronising education, again.
Vijay Bhatkar, chairperson of IIT-Delhi Board of Governors called in for a meeting with Ramdev and members of RSS’ Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram for the implementation of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan in January this year. The meeting raised a controversial stir in the society, when the involvement of cows to address rural issues, came up.
While Union HRD minister Smriti Irani had consistently denied saffronisation of education, yesterday she held deliberations with RSS affiliated bodies on the new education policy during the officials also discussed the appointments of possible candidates in various institutes and universities in the country.
Citing a mere collaboration as the reason behind Baba Ramdev’s visit, professors have saud that they have infact collaborated with over 100 agencies and spiritual gurus in a mission to work for the rural progress.
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, is an HRD ministry scheme anchored by IIT Delhi, and seeks to build the technical strength of the IITs to help the rural India through tech intervention.
[“source-indiatoday.intoday”]