Director dismisses students' charges
But his qualifications are not the only grouse students have against him. "He constantly abuses students who demand for what is their right," says Uthara Kannan. "A female student complained about the food we are getting in the mess sometime back. Instead of trying to solve the problem, he abused and sent her away. This is what triggered off the protests again," he claims. Then why has no action been taken against the Dean if he has subjected students to a steady stream of insults?
"He joined the institute three years back. The buzz is that the Dean is related to MDMK chief Vaiko and nobody knows how or why he was appointed," a person in the management claims.
The Director of SVPISTM, Dr.Rameshkumar, however dismisses these charges. "The Dean is just a bit strict and so the students are saying this," he laughs. "They must have not understood his Tamil slang because they are north Indians. He has been instrumental in streamlining the curriculum and improving the infrastructure," he adds. As far as the qualification of the staff is concerned, the Director claims some 3 of the permanent staff have worked in the textile industry.
A textile professional formally associated with the institute told TNM that the staff who were hired in 2003 had been highly qualified and hand-picked by a group of IAS officers. "It was started by the Vajpayee Government with a great vision but soon private interests began to interfere. All employment was on a contractual basis. But in the last few years contracts were being terminated arbitrarily and professors were hired on contacts. Following this, everyone who had experience in the textile industry quit. We have complained multiple times to the Textile Ministry and to authorities in the Central Government. But no action has been taken. Every year students continue to be fooled," he claims.
Promises of Campus Placement
Students who were lured with promises of managerial positions in Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons, Jay Jay mills and other renowned brands are only getting recruited for a maximum salary of only Rs. 12,000 by local textile companies.
"We pay close to Rs.2 lakh as fees for two years. The big companies that they had claimed will come for recruitment such as Jay Jay mills didn't come and other companies that hire us have a starting salary of Rs.6000" says Uttara Kannan. "Even a labourer in the Tirupur region gets close to Rs.8000 a month. Is that all we deserve with a post-graduation diploma?” he asks angrily.