[Assam] Day2: Assam 2007: Pt2; engg colleges, NRAs & CM

Wed Jul 4 06:15:29 PDT 2007

Umesh-ji:
Thanks for the update. I am glad to see that there were meaningful discussions with the CM on relevent issues. Thanks to Jugal and Partha for taking the initiative. I am glad to see involvement of Gautom Barua (Director IIT, Guwahati) on the issue of additional engineering colleges in Assam. Was he personally present in the Assam-2007? I have already written to Jugal that they have done a great job because this is the first time ever that we Assamese have prepared an indepth scientific report on what we have and what we need and why, at least for the engineering education. If we follow this approach, instead of GOI Mai-Bap to bless Assam, we will win. Let us keep up with the issues and follow up agrresively.
Thanks
Rajenda

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: umesh sharma 
  To: assam at assamnet.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 11:30 PM
  Subject: [Assam] Day2: Assam 2007: Pt2; engg colleges, NRAs & CM

    Hi,

    In the Day 2 of the meeting (on Sunday July 1st, 2007) we arrived just in time to have the lunch (got value for money - the $110 we had paid each for the Assam 2007) - I was able to identify the dish with the shrimp (and avoided a painful alergy outbreak ) .

    At the same time meeting of Assam Society was going on - I could make out the sentences in English which were focused on non-profit work and fund-raising (of about $2,500 only) and projects been sponsored and monitored in Assam.

     Later Partha-da Gogoi presented a passionate presentation for the self-help groups and business initiative and mentoring for engineering students etc  http://www.nepif.weblet.in/   North East Professional Institutes Forum

    under the leadership of Assam Institute of Management http://www.aimguwahati.com/ -- which was later shown in front of the Chief Minister --

    alongwith a presentation slideshow of http://www.pearllifeline.com/ funded and spearheaded by an NRI/NRA http://www.assamtribune.com/may0507/Photo4.html who advised US President George Bush on medical stuff. 

    http://www.posoowa.org/2007/06/30/a-need-for-expanding-engineering-education-facilities-in-assam-for-economic-growth-and-human-development/
    After that was the persuasive presentation for promoting engineering college by Jugal-da Kalita based on research by Jugal-da (IIT , Phd UPenn - Ivy League Univ, Prof Computer Science, Colorado) , Umesh-da Tabildar (IIT , NASA, USA ), Jukti-da Kalita (IIT, IIM, PhD Columbia) , Mantu-da Bhaishya ( BITS, Pilani ) , Ganesh-a Bora (PhD Kansas - Agriculture engineering)  , Durba-da Bhattacharya (Prof Computer science - Tejpur Univ, Assam)

    --- with comments on it by  Gautom Barua (Director IIT- Guwahati Computer Science) and other IIT profs and Dipankar-da Medhi (Prof Computer Science at Kansas and AssamNet Co-founder) 

    The Chief Minster was in a state of bliss --- especially after the negative reception  he received at Boston conference where he was only questioned about the annual flooding of Guwahati (he later spoke of Global Warming which might lead initail floods by melting of glaciers followed by drought - when no more glaciers). He said that he is so pleased with these presentation which have a positive note and aim to improve the situation of Assam.

    Main Points of the engineering college presentation -- Orissa has 13,000 employed by Infosys for computer work -- even though has much worse travel connection than Assam. Gautam Barua (IIT - G director) was told by Infosys Chief (Nilekani is IIT batchmate of Gautam-da ) that Assam only produces 750 engg grads compared to 13,000 by Orissa - and Infosys wants 80% of its employees to be local -atleast. 

    Second, Assam has 2.5% of India's population but only 0.2% of its engineering colleges and only 0.17% of its engineering graduates. I agreed with Jugal-da that engineering education might act as a "pull" in improving basic education (at school level) .

     Later during lunch Jugal-da, Partha-da and others were having lively discussion with the CM. The CM had declared that his govt had declared already that the year 2007 was the Year of Education and passed a Bill (confirmed by his ADC later to  me) to open privately run engineering colleges etc. Jugal-da however, told me that he was not able to lay hands on any such Bill being passed by Assam govt - but may have been introduced.

    I was within one feet of the CM and  even made eye contact but I conceded to the stalwarts waiting to talk to him - who could have more immediate impact or synergy.

    Partha-da in his very professional approach  showed that it was possible to  have business outreach delegations to US  -- since backward states like Jharkhand and  Uttranchal have been  making waves in US. Utpal-da Brahma  (IIT, IIM  and  National Defense  Academy  selected  ) was of the opinion that  first  local Indian companies need to  be invited to Assam and  based on their  performance MNCs would  get attracted to  invest  (FDI) in Assam.  

    There are more than one way to skin a cat , however!!!!

    Jugal-da and Partha-da rightly noted that NRAs have yet to get involved with entrepreneurial ventures and thus, professional education is the key to economic development of Assam -- a fact whole heartedly agreed  to by Assam Chief Minister.
    He did say the Assam's economy was growing at 3% before his tenure and now is at 6% and want it to go up to 8-9%  to catch up with rest of India - and negated my question (anonymous) that corruption was on the rise otherwise how could current growth be possible. 

    (My comment - Indian embassy in DC has now opened doors for anyone seeking corroption of any other info - under RTI - Right To Info Act)

    Any comments?

    Umesh

  Umesh Sharma

  Washington D.C. 

  1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

  Ed.M. - International Education Policy
  Harvard Graduate School of Education,
  Harvard University,
  Class of 2005

  http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)

  http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)

  www.gse.harvard.edu/iep (where the above 2 are used )

  http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/

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