HRD asked to drop prefix of Rajiv Gandhi from IIM Shillong

Shillong, May 8 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has written a letter to the Union Human Resource Development ministry to drop the prefix of Rajiv Gandhi from IIM-Shillong.

The seventh IIM was christened the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM), Shillong.

State Education Minister Manas Chaudhuri told reporters here that the education department had already dispatched the letter to the union human resource ministry on May 6.

''The MPA government is not disrespecting the late Prime Minister, but we are just trying to maintain the standard of the IIM,'' he said.

Ironically, the objection over the inclusion of the prefix of Rajiv Gandhi in IIM-Shillong was raised by Congress legislator Prestone Tynsong in the Assembly some days ago. He had said the prefix will dilute the brand name of the prestigious institution.

''IIM is a brand name and calling it RGIIM will be diluting the institute. The suggestion is accepted and the issue will be taken up with the appropriate authority of Government of India,'' Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy had informed the Assembly recently.

Stating that the prefix might send a wrong impression to others about the standard of education in the B-School, Mr Chaudhuri said, ''Meghalaya wants to retain the same standard of the IIM which is there elsewhere in the country. It has to be an A-grade B-School in the country like the others six IIMs.'' Mr Chaudhuri informed that even the faculty of the IIM-Shillong has to be of A-class like the other six. He said this was thoroughly discussed with the RGIIM-Shillong director, who has gone to Delhi with the proposal of the state government.

The seventh IIM, christened the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (RGIIM), Shillong, will get a grant for non-recurring expenditure of Rs 120 crore over a period of five years and Rs 45 crore for recurring expenditure over a period of six years.

UNI RRK PL MSJ ND1456