Letter showing constitution of one man inquiry committee against NIT Warangal Director and others

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Open letter to NITW fraternity

Dear Students,

We are really sorry for disturbing you at this Nth hour of the semester. But it is imperative to bring this very important issue forward which effects our lives. The MHRD ministry through vide advertisement number F.No.34 -8/2015 – TS.III has called for appointment of new Director to NITW. It is our duty, if not responsibility, as a stake holder of NIT Warangal to place records on table and seek justice for all of us.

NIT Warangal has been bleeding for the last 10 years due to corruption by the Director’s. First it was the previous Director Prof.Y.V.Rao and now by our alumnus cum Director Prof.T.S.Rao. It is not a secret among the administration that Mr. & Mrs.T.S.Rao have made NIT Warangal as their family fiefdom.

May be it is in our fate that we need to suffer due to inaction of other stake holders of this institute, namely, the Faculty, the Students Council and NIT Warangal Alumni Association. Hence it is high time that we, Asthra, open up in public and see through that the efforts of Asthra to bar appoint of Prof. T.S.Rao further as Director of NIT Warangal or any other NIT do not go in vain.

Way back in 2010 the students have played a pivotal role in ousting the then corrupt Director Prof.Y.V.Rao. The collective efforts of students, faculty and non-teaching staff resonated in the power corridors of MHRD and led to few systematic changes in governance of NITs. Such was the power of collective effort and anger against corruption from NIT Warangal.

Therefore, we at Asthra solicit your support to bring an end to this ongoing maladministration and corruption at NIT Warangal. With Asthra’s efforts we bring to your notice the list of corruption at NIT Warangal by Mr. & Mrs. T.S.Rao.

Also, following the complaints of corruption and mal administration at NITW a preliminary enquiry committee constitution was called by the previous Chairman of NITW Dr.Krishna Ella. Till date the enquiry committee has not seen light and we have learnt that the current Director is seeking another 5 year term as NITW Director.

The following is the list of cases of corruption by Mr. & Mrs. T.S.Rao:

S.No.	Item	Remark	Reference
1.	International food court(IFC) & Ladies Hostel Mess	Last year Director received kickbacks of Rs.4 to 10 every day from each student enrolled in IFC. Base price of tender was Rs.77 but tenders were awarded at Rs. 90.05 and Rs.90.09	Annexure
2.	Old Messes	No accounts and procurement practices are followed at Hostel office. As a result huge commissions are made from purchases by Director and his henchmen at Hostel office. As a result students continue to pay inflated bills even today.	Annexure
3.	Drinking water	a. Repeated water purifying equipment’s worth crores were purchased in spite of knowing the fact that ground water at NITW is of very high turbidity and regular water purifiers do not work. b. Just to receive kickbacks from contractor supplying drinking water work on municipal water supply to NIT Hostels and Messes has been stopped. Lakhs of rupees are paid from student pocket to contractor every month.	Annexure
4.	Land Purchases by Director	With kickbacks received in the college Director has purchased 2.89 acres land at Podalkur Mandal, Nellore,A.P and 30 acres land at Jangaon, Telangana.	Annexure
5.	Chit funds	To escape Income Tax scrutiny money received as bribes is being deposited in the form of chits runs run by small firms in Warangal
6.	Tenders	Works worth crores are willfully split into pieces worth below Rs.50 Lakh so that works can be given on nomination basis. Thus paving way for nexus among Director and contractor and easier collection of bribes
7.	Vardhaman Security	Director received bribes by inflating number of security persons employed by the contractor
7.	Administrative posts	Administrative posts are auctioned by Director with the help of his henchmen to receive bribes. Promotions and assignments are given to those faculty who are yes men of Director.
8.	Visit by MHRD minister Mrs.Smriti Irani	2 crores was the amount that the Director spent on the visit by the Minister
9.	Chandiyagam	Chandiyagam was performed, February 2012, on the name of god just to receive donations (kickbacks) from contractors.
10.	Royal Enfield Motorcycles	5 Royal Enfield’s have been distributed by the Director keep the Student leaders as yes men of administration.

 

The above list is not exhaustive. The corruption done by Prof.T.S.Rao needs an in detailed inquiry as ingenuine ways which are difficult to visualize were employed to siphon money. There is an opinion that the Director Prof.T.S.Rao himself has made 15 to 20 crore from these kickbacks. Heance enquiry committee is need of the hour as ordered by previous Chairman.

Few might ask, why do not we approach courts if our allegations are true? Yes! We would approach the court if Prof.T.S.Rao is reappointed as Director of any NIT. But before that this campaign has to bring pressure on Ministry. We need to wait for Ministry’s stand.

We do have our vested interests in running this campaign. As alumnus of NIT Warangal our careers take an effect when MHRD ranks NIT Warangal at number 28(NIT Warangal was ranked No.7 (All India) and 1^st among NITs in 2006 by IDC-Dataquest-Nasscom). Alumni at starting of their careers will be seen with skepticism by the industry. The esteem associated with NITW brand is lowered. Students’ placements get affected. Faculty recruitment takes effect and the cream might not prefer NITW as a place to teach and do research. Tomorrow, who knows, MHRD might tie funds with performance in NIRF(National Institutional Ranking Framework). In short every stake holder of NIT Warangal is effected by the corrupt and maladministration of current Director Prof.T.S.Rao. There is very danger of NITW being ranked at number 50 in the next round of NIRF.

If you believe in what we have presented please sign our petition on change.org. If you do not believe, we request, you at least not to take side of corrupt Director Prof.T.S.Rao.

Lastly we request you not to fall in trap to the words of few Students’ council leaders who themselves are shareholders in this malaise. Also beware of Professors who rob the institute with fake ‘chai ka paisa’ bills.

Our talent and hard work do not deserve these scums!

Help us by signing our petition to Smriti Irani at https://goo.gl/BknT37

With Pain,

Asthra (Association for Transparency and Accountability)

http://www.theasthra.org

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Force NITW administration to implement Right to Information(RTI) act in letter and spirit

Dear Concerned Citizen,

This is your chance to tell the administration of NITW to implement RTI act in its true spirit. Help improve the administration of institutes like NIT.Click to sign the petition.

Asthra was formed by a few like minded students and alumni of National Institute of   Technology(NIT), Warangal,Andhra Pradesh. With an aim to bring in more  transparency and accountability in the education system. Since then, we have been trying our best to make sure that the landmark Right to Information (RTI) Act is implemented in letter and spirit in NITW. While we have been partly successful in making them disclose certain details, a lot needs to be done.

This campaign is an effort to pressurize and awaken the administration of NITW. Your invaluable support in this endeavour will go a long way in changing things at NITW and thereby triggering a change in the education system at large.

We request you to sign this petition and show your support.

In solidarity,

Team Asthra

www.theasthra.org

www.asthranitw.wordpress.com

E-mail: info@theasthra.org

Source:

1. Letter written by Asthra Team in August 2011

https://asthranitw.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/implement-rti-act-at-nit-warangal-or-resign-on-24th-august/

2.News article in Deccan Chronicle

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/karimnagar/fight-rti-act-implementation-nit-623

3.Protest withdraw notice and clarification from Asthra

https://asthranitw.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/an-open-letter-about-asthra/

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Implement RTI act at NIT Warangal

Dear CPIO and APIO’s of NIT Warangal,

It has been more than 6 years that RTI has come into force.Even today RTI implementation at NIT Warangal is given the least preference.We at Team Asthra have always been in forefront in the issue of implementation of RTI and preparation of RTI manuals,at your offices from last 2 years .We have written dozens of letters and emails.

Lack of awareness about RTI act itself among the CPIO and APIO’s show how committed NIT Warangal is towards RTI implementation.Its is not for once but for many times we have come across the table to negotiate and emphasise the importance of RTI implmentation at NIT Warangal.We gave all the volunteer help(4 in number) and prepared a 5 page document for you even though it was not our job.Our concern for maladministration at NIT Warangal has made us knock your doors regularly.We did even stress on how useful is RTI manual in governance of NIT Warangal for smooth functioning and ease of work.

All our efforts, pursuance and withdrawal from a protest in month of August 2011 has only made us go more worried.

6 years and still not even a single RTI session for administrative officers of NIT Warangal has been conducted.The administration has been successful only in beating around the bush when it has come to implementation of RTI act. We have been facing and bearing all the insult at your offices for our fundamental right, Right to Information. We are afraid on what message you want to send across to people of this country by not being transparent and carrying out various process of administration within the four walls.

Had the institute put sincere effort as the Director did in performing Chandiyagam to drive away evil spirits we would have not written this email to you today.

We have no other option other than launching an online campaign from February 8th 2012 to wake you up.

With Concern,

Rakesh Dubbudu & Rajendra Lingam
(For Team Asthra)
http://www.theasthra.org
http://www.asthranitw.wordpress.com
Ph.No. 9885419012; 9885789908

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55 Lakhs is all that they spent on medicines for students at NIT Warangal

A whopping 55 lakhs was spent for purchase of medicines at NIT Warangal dispensary for the last 3 years. This exuberant figure came into light in one of the RTI’s filed by Mundhuadugu-A RTI initiative Eenadu (Telugu news daily). NIT  Warangal dispensary caters to the needs of the faculty, non-teaching and students of the institute. The dispensary runs with 1 medical officer and 3 doctors. The medicines at the dispensary are purchased from the contractor and are given for free to the members on the prescription of doctors. While dispersing the medicines to the patients a note of the medicines distributed is recorded in the register.

Records show that Rs.16 lakhs was spent for 2436 students treated at the dispensary. While Rs.18 Lakhs was spent for treating 6094 students in 2009,Rs.21 lakhs was spent for 6365 students treated for the year 2010.

Interestingly the records show that in the last 3 years only 6 professors have been treated at NIT Warangal and it has come to notice that faculty is receiving medicines for the prescription taken from outside the NIT Dispensary. A figure of Rs.10 Lakh per annum can be added to the above figures if one takes non-teaching staff  into consideration.

Dispensary RTI

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All is not well at NIT Warangal

The administration of NIT Warangal is yet to take corrective action over serious shortcomings and irregularities highlighted by CAG in its audit report submitted this September on Performance of NIsT from the period 2005 to 2010. The response of the administration to this report remains to be seen.

It is observed that the administration is busy in playing a blame game with the Non teaching staff rather than exploring ways to overcome the shortcomings in the smooth functioning of the institute. Most issues raised by Team Asthra were pointed to the ‘inefficiency and shortage of Non Teaching staff’. But the findings of CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) tell a different story.  The CAG report says there were an excess of 13.3 percent Non-Teaching staff (477 Non teaching staff are employed over 421 as per norms).

It looks like the non implementation of RTI act in letter and spirit can be attributed to lack of interest in the administration about tranparency and accountability in its working. The CAG report observes that massive works worth 6.23 crores were carried out during the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 without obtaining recommendations of Building and Works Committee (BWC), that is responsible for  all major construction works after obtaining the necessary administrative approval and sanction of expenditure from Board of Governors (BOGs). This points to a serious procedural lapse and abuse of power that can lead to corruption.

The NIT Warangal administration also seems to be taking in more students than approved. The report observed that 20 students in Electronics and Communication Engineering, 2 students in Mechanical Engineering and 2 students in Chemical Engineering were admitted in excess and against the norms (The administration did not provide data for Civil Engineering and Computer science courses).

The biggest shortcoming and a matter of great concern for NIT Warangal is the non-accreditation of undergraduate Biotechnology course and 16 other post graduate courses by National Board of Accreditation(NBA). Many local engineering colleges in Hyderabad have a A+ star rating for their Biotechnology course from the NBA.

While faculty shortage of 209 members is a major issue, in-house training for the current faculty also did not take place for the last 5 years. Interestingly NIT Warangal which boasts of placements is not the best among the NIsT when the average (B.Tech + M.Tech) of the placements is taken. Also the institute does not have sufficient number of computers and there is a shortage of 196 computers which would cater needs of 784 students.

The only parameter on which NIT Warangal stood ahead of other NIsT was the hostel facility however poor class room facilities and lack of 38 lecture halls (Lecture Hall and Class room are different) continue to haunt.

There is urgent need for revitalizing academics at NIT Warangal. Transparency and Accountability in the governance should be given the utmost priority in this time of crisis. The task of turning this around lies upon the senate which is responsible for the maintenance of standards of instruction, education and examination in the Institute and the vision of the Director who shall ride the chariot.

CAG REPORT : Please CLICK HERE

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NIT Director’s selection done without evaluation

We received a reply to our RTI filed on NIT Director’s selection criteria. This was the second RTI which we filed on this line and our previous RTI too was the similar one. The second RTI had to be filed as the second appeal filed with the CIC is yet to come for hearing. The link to the information received from ministry has been attached in the below link and is also available in “Our Work” tab of this blog.

REPLY 

We sought various information related to the Director’s selection, right from applications received for the advertisement to file noting of various meetings held in the due process for selection. The reply received from ministry indicates that there was a purposeful delay and illegitimate use of various sections of RTI to provide the information sought within time.

1. The first paragraph of the reply contradicts ministry’s own statement on “Third party” and provides all contact information in a neatly tabulated sheet when we have asked for the copies of the application filed. The ministry makes a baseless statement, “due to tremendous pressure of work, it has not been possible for the NIT division to seek the opinion for furnishing copies of their personal details/applications.” The statement itself is inherent in its character for non compliance of the act and the double talk of the ministry. If the personal details form “Third party” data, why did the CPIO furnish all personal details in a separately prepared document and send it. Didn’t the CPIO know that he had to contact all the 147 applicants before disclosing their personal details? When all the personal contact information related to applicant was provided, how is it that the rest of information provided by applicant in the application a third party information? The sanity levels of CPIO need to be questioned?

2. The names of persons who applied for the post have been given under personal details and recommendations were highlighted along with the name who proposed them.

3. The list of committee members is also given. The interesting point to be noted is that the Directors of Institutes which are on par with few NIT’s are involved in selecting the directors and it is like ,” You select my friend I will select yours”.

4. The biggest flaw in the selection process comes here. No evaluation is done in short listing the 46 candidates from 147 applicants in first round and final short listing after interview.

5. The committee has listed 4 points for selection criteria and has relaxed norms to include few poodles in the final list who recently completed their terms at NIT’s.

6. The ministry refuses to disclose the vital information related to selection process quoting that the selection process has not yet been completed.

All these dilatory tactics are to pave roads for the corrupt to these premier institutes.  Over time ministry might forget about the selection process but Team Asthra would take up this issue again and again till all the details are disclosed and it is convinced that the selection process was a fair one. Professors, Academicians and volunteers who like to get associated with us on this issue please mail us at asthra@live.com

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To whom are the NIT DGP students accountable to?

National  Institute of Technology, Durgapur, One of the premier institutions of the country set up in 1965 with a great vision to promote a healthy academic and cultural environment. The motto of this institute:”udhyog purushasya lakshanam” is facing an identity crisis not just at the hands of the administration but also by the students.

As in many other colleges, this college too has an elected student body, Student Gymkhana. The gymkhana primarily comprises of:

President

Vice-President

General Secretary (Signatory)

Asst General Secretary (Cultural)

Asst General Secretary (Sports)

The gymkhana acts as a bridge between the administration and the students. Any student-related activity in the college is supervised or assisted by the gymkhana. Further, it is the sole body which conducts the national level cultural fest, Recstacy, of the college.

Now, the question arises. To whom is this student gymkhana answerable to? The Administration? The students?

As it so happens, all dealings regarding this body are vague. Nothing is transparent. Nothing seems to be accounted for by the administration. It is a body completely managed by the students. And, as in any other body with ample paisa and power, this one too is wrought with corruption. The lamentable part is that corruption over here is at the hands of the future citizens, the youth and not some grubby slimy politician.

Whatever has been stated above is not just hearsay. It is backed by tangible evidence. When we filed an RTI demanding the bills of the cultural fest Recstacy 2011, we were amazed and shocked at the four-lined laid back reply.

The authorities had clearly mentioned that they do not have any accounts of the expenditure incurred during the fest and that it managed solely by the students.

Further, there is reason to believe that the previous gymkhana body has made a “Profit” of  lakhs just from the one fest. The gymkhana had also been allotted lakhs to organize Fresher’s party on behalf of the college for the first year B.Tech and PG students last year. Suspiciously, the event never took place. What was even more suspicious was the fact that some members of the student body were spotted flaunting flashy new bikes. They were also spotted scooting off to tourist destinations and indulging in various pleasures disproportionate to a student’s budget.

Moreover even the budgets of all the clubs and other student related activities are finalized by Student’s Gymkhana. So there is no knowing what goes on behind the scenes during the process of fund-allotment. There is no fool-proof and established system to keep a tab on the activities. And this is not it. The Gymkhana is known to have demanded a certain sum of money from the various clubs to ensure the smooth functioning of their fests and other activities. And when the clubs refused, they were denied many basic necessities for carrying out their events(as stated by some students of NIT Durgapur).

This was just the story of Student Gymkhana. In addition to it, the college has 14 clubs. All of these clubs are allotted funds at the start of each academic year proportional to its scale of activities. At the end of each year, how much of these funds have been effectively utilized and how much has vanished into thin air is another burning question. Plus, there are 10 hostels in the campus, each of which has a hall-secretary and a few mess-secretaries. Even they have the power to acquire funds from the college to take up some restorative activities in the hostel. These funds too are unaccounted for.

The objective of the article is not to crucify the wrong-doers (who in this case are the ‘Yuva’) but to make them answerable. The future of these students is invaluable. It can not be jeopardized by an inefficient and opaque system which has become something of a heirloom passed on from one batch to the next. The minds of these youngsters can not and must not be corrupted at such a precious age and such a precious institution. If there is no conscience, there should at least rise a fear in the minds of the students that they are accountable to someone. They are answerable to someone. There is a law which is not some silly college rule and is not meant to be broken, but to be respected, feared and abided by! What we want is to clean up this slime, finish off the pests at the roots before it manifests itself into that venomous monster crippling the entire system of the country. What we want is what the entire nation wanted when one man Anna Hazare spoke up.What we want is justice. What we want is a new and shining India!

Below is what we got in response to the RTI filed.

Link: Reply

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NIT Warangal to support Jan Lokpal Bill

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