COVID-19 Lockdown: MHRD mulls a task force to boost IIT placements

NEW DELHI: The Human Resource Development Minister has mooted setting up a task force to ensure that placements don’t fall below that of last year's at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The proposed task force will have to liaise with companies regarding placements.

Addressing the directors of 23 IITs through a video conference on April 1, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank' directed them to prepare the academic calendar in a way that students do not lose out on summer and winter internships.

The summer internships of a majority of IIT students have been cancelled after the government declared a 21-day lockdown from March 22 to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The conference reviewed the preparedness of IITs in the wake of COVID-19 crisis.

The HRD minister directed the IITs to set up a helpline and a task force to handle mental health issues caused by the lockdown. He also instructed them to pay salary and scholarships on time.

The Minister also emphasized on the importance of online platforms to maintain the continuity of teaching-learning process.

To combat COVID-19, Pokhriyal sought the help of IITs in active research.

The directors informed the minister that IITs are working on preparing a revised academic calendar so that students are not deprived of academic activities.

They also told the HRD minister that to compensate for any job offers withdrawn after campus placement, a special drive will be undertaken in July/August this year.

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