IITs can lead 'Start-up India' mission: Jitendra Singh

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other such institutions can effectively lead 21st century's ''Start-up India'' mission as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union minister of state for North East and MoS PMO, personnel, public grievances, pensions, atomic energy and space, Jitendra Singh said today.

Addressing a conclave of IIT Alumni Association where he also released a coffee table book on IIT Delhi written by president of IIT Delhi Alumni Association, Deepak Dogra, the minister said although the IIT alumni are spread all over the world and have also diversified into different fields of activity, profession and entrepreneurship, they remain underutilised.

The challenge at this stage is to streamline the process of diversification so that even after having received the best of the technical training and expertise, the young talent should not remain under-utilized by taking up jobs which are not equal to their expertise but lure them simply for monetary considerations, he said.

Moreover, generating employment for themselves and others rather than simply getting a job placement should be the priority for all those who pass out from institutions like IIT, he added.

Referring to IITs as monuments of contemporary India and its alumni as world ambassadors of contemporary India, Singh said the responsibility of those who pass out from an IIT is confined not only to their Alma Matter but in fact to the entire nation as participants in the ''Make in India'' dream.

Recalling his last visit to IIT Delhi a few months ago, he said he had suggested to the then director IIT Delhi Shevgaonkar to set up a biotechnology cell under the aegis of IIT in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology.

He said, with the kind of impetus and special thrust that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself imparts to scientific advancement, this is an opportunity for institutions like IIT to achieve their maximum potential level of growth.

The director of IIT Delhi, Prof Kshitij Gupta and eminent IIT alumni including RS Pawar, were also present on the occasion.