Lucky that IRMA has no Joshi, hikes fees to 2 lakh

As Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi waves the Supreme Court’s endorsement of his IIM fee cut as a vindication of his decision, pe...

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As Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi waves the Supreme Court’s endorsement of his IIM fee cut as a vindication of his decision, perhaps he should look at another top-notch institute, the Institute of Rural Management, (IRMA) Anand. It has planned to hike its fees by almost 38% and refund the extra amount to those graduates who stay with the co-operative sector for at least three years after they graduate.

Set to be implemented in the coming session in June, the new fee for the coveted two-year postgraduate Programme in Rural Management (PRM) will jump to Rs 2 lakh from the current Rs 1.45 lakh.

As part of the plan, a corpus will be created in which the money collected over and above the present fee will be deposited. Those graduates who work in the co-operative sector for at least three years will get their money back.

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‘‘So effectively there will be no hike for the students. We are finalising the nitty-gritty of the scheme. The issue has been discussed with the faculty board,’’ said a faculty member.

IRMA chairman V Kurien, when contacted by The Indian Express, said that the decision was right as the institute was more of a mission and unlike IIMs did not get massive government help.

‘‘It’s absolutely OK. After all, we do not get government help. We may help those students who intend to stick to the rural sector. We can give their money back,’’ said Kurien.

Incidentally, Kurien, author of the report that endorsed a hike in IIM fees, had been critical of Joshi’s intentions calling the fee cut a way for the government to erode IIMs’ autonomy.

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Already, IRMA students get Tata-Amul fellowships based on ‘‘merit and means.’’ Under this, students are given a waiver of Rs 50,000 at the time of studies and get Rs 50,000 on completion of three years in cooperatives sector, after they have graduated.

‘‘The idea is to stop subsidising and yet retain talent in the sector,’’ said IRMA professor Shailesh Gandhi.