IRMA loses more faculty members

VADODARA: Three more faculty members of country’s only premiere rural management Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) are learnt to have submitted their resignations. With this, IRMA has lost 10 faculty members since July, 2006.

SK Mitra, a faculty for ‘Costing and Investment Analysis’ resigned late in January while Arvind Gupta, who taught Agricultural Economics, is believed to have submitted his resignation on Thursday.

While Mitra confirmed to have submitted his resignation, Gupta was not reachable for his comments. Institute sources say faculty member Tara Nair too is contemplating putting in her papers in less than a year of her recruitment as an assistant professor.

Meanwhile, IRMA management announced the revised sector incentive scholarship for students who would join development sector. Last week, ET had reported that the institute is considering redesigning incentive package for students as salaries in private sector is skyrocketing.

Sources close to the development said some members are finding the working environment stressful ever since Dr Verghese Kurien stepped down from the helm of affairs of country’s only premium rural management institute.

“Other institutes are offering better opportunities. The faculty members have hardly any say in the functioning of the institute. We are interested more in serving the development sector and not being part of political games,” said a faculty member who has already been interviewed at a prominent B school.

At present, the day-to-day affairs of the institute are being looked after by GM Patnaik, deputy general manager National Dairy Development Board.

mitul.thakkar@timesgroup.com