Even as the debate over the fee-cut imposed by the government on the Indian Institutes of Management rages there is another issue which has reared its head: Are the IIMs 'elitist' organisations?
India's Minister for Human Resource Development Murli Manohar Joshi has also said that since the IIMs are being funded by the government they need to show greater accountability because they are being funded by the taxpayer's money.
As alumni or teachers at IIMs do you agree with his views? What do you feel sets the IIMs apart?
rediff.com got three alumni from IIM-Ahmedabad and Prof Trilochan Sastry of IIM-Bangalore to write in and tell us.
'Fee cut will harm IIM prestige'
"There are hundreds of management institutes in India -- with a wide range of fee levels -- to suit all affordability brackets. We cannot start reducing the best institutes like IIM to the lowest common denominator," says Ravi Miglani.
'Don't tinker with the IIMs'
"The HRD ministry which funds the IIMs has every right to ask if it is getting the right return on its investment. But for that accountablity and returns to be measured, a set of transparent metrics has to be put in place. Cutting fees or ensuring greater government control is not the answer," says Girish Subramanian.
'Stop the onslaught on IIMs, IITs'
"In the history of IITs and IIMs, there has not been even a single student who was selected for admission in these institutions but could not study because of want of finances," says Varun Arya.
'Fee reduction has paralysed IIMs'
The government seems bent upon removing the IIM autonomy. That is the basic issue, says Prof Trilochan Sastry, IIM-Bangalore.
As alumni and teachers do you want to have your say too?
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