Introduction of NET norms in AAU draws flak

Introduction of NET norms in AAU draws flak

By A Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, June 17 – The employment and career advancement policy of Assam Agricultural University (AAU) authorities in making National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, New Delhi, mandatory for entry-level jobs has drawn flak from various quarters, including the teachers and students of the university. “The norms of NET have not been accepted in many regional agricultural universities of the country as agriculture is based on region-specific agro-climatic situations. Question setters mostly from Delhi do not give priority to the important soils and crops situations of the region as per local teaching syllabus of the State,” AAU sources said, adding that as a result, very few could get NET qualified from Assam. Reasoning that the students of Assam would consequently be deprived of AAU jobs, sources said that candidates of inferior quality from outside Assam having no knowledge of local situations would get job preference in AAU, depriving talented local candidates. “Moreover, the authorities have fixed the qualification of having 55 per cent marks in Higher Secondary level for getting a job in AAU whereas the same is not necessary to get AAU admission. National institutes do not give priority to the attainment at secondary level, which directly means that the product you are producing is not fit enough to serve you,” sources said. On the other hand, the authorities have changed the norms of having an agricultural degree to the statutory post of Director. A non-agricultural graduate cannot administer the desired quality of agricultural education, sources added. A sizeable number of Research Associates (RA) from Assam having a Masters’ degree in Agriculture working under Technology Mission have been sacked recently, although in other north-eastern States, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and J & K, the authorities are continuing with retention of services of RAs. The works under Technology Mission in Assam have been suffering apart from locals being rendered jobless overnight, sources said.In case of admission to MSc, a new rule that there would be no admission if there are less than two candidates in a subject has been introduced. Scholarship will also not be awarded if there is less than three candidates in a particular discipline. “This is most unjustified for the students and detrimental to the academic growth of the university. With this new regulation, even a gold medalist may not get admission or may not earn scholarship in this university,” sources said, adding that these particular rules resulted in dissuading the students from pursuing MSc in AAU, who are opting for other universities outside the State.Regretting that implementation of the much-awaited Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) of scientists and teachers, as approved by ICAR and the State Government long back, has been conspicuously delayed, sources said that on the other hand with the tenure of the present Vice-Chancellor (VC) nearing completion by October 2008, the selection process of all statutory officers viz. dean and directors has been initiated at this juncture. “Earlier, an all-party Sadan Committee had to be formed in the Assam Assembly in 1999 when various irregularities were noted in the appointments made at the fag end of the then VC,” sources pointed out and added that the board of management of AAU should start the selection process of the new VC immediately, keeping all appointments in abeyance, so that the new VC who is supposed to continue for five years could get the opportunity to work in harmony with team members chosen by him.