Beleaguered NIT director quits

In a dramatic turn of events, Y. Venkateswara Rao, director, National Institute of Technology (NIT), announced his resignation after he was questioned by NIT students over mismanagement and fund misuse allegations during an open meeting at NIT auditorium on Wednesday evening.

Mr Venkateswara Rao and registrar C.S.P Rao, stood speechless when NIT Students’ Council members bombarded them with questions during the marathon three-hour open meeting at the NIT auditorium, which was packed to capacity to hear Mr Rao’s responses over a host of allegations surrounding NIT.

After Mr Rao failed to respond to any of the questions put forward by the NIT Student Council leaders, all the 4,000-odd students began shouting.

As mediapersons were also present in full numbers, Mr Rao announced his resignation from the podium of NIT auditorium at 6.15 pm, with NIT registrar, who initially tried to defuse the situation, standing as mute spectator.

The allegations against Mr Rao, said NIT Student Council president V. Ankith Reddy, relates to gross neglect in providing basic infrastructure to students.

The students also levelled allegations against Mr Rao claiming that he was involved in a scam involving Rs 60 crores, given by HRD ministry for NIT development activities.

Beginning with the issue of quality of food served at NIT’s Food Court to decreasing student-faculty ratio, the student leaders, cornered Mr Rao on other issues.

The NIT director ducked all questions put before him by the students. He went silent when NIT girl students, who were also present in full strength, asked him to explain as to why there were no ladies toilets for them.

“There is no water to drink nor is there any in the toilets in all the classrooms. We just have to depend on borewell water,” said a student.

While others sought answers why student-faculty ratio had come down to 1:37 in electrical department as against the required 1:12. Interestingly, while the open discussion was going on inside the auditorium, a few NIT students were seen collecting donations from students so that they can plead their case before NIT Board of Governors meeting, which is scheduled on 26 March in New Delhi.

source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com//karimnagar/beleaguered-nit-director-quits-754