CHENNAI: Stating that faculty members were the backbone of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, director Bhaskar Ramamurthi on Friday announced that the Board of Governors had decided to award Rs 10,000 as incentive per month to bright faculty members.
Delivering the director’s report at the 51st convocation of IIT-M, where a total of 1,691 degrees were awarded, he said the institute continued to recruit every year world-class faculty working in frontier areas of research. “In 2013-14, the institute added 30 new faculty members, of whom four are women,” he pointed out. “At a meeting held just an hour before the convocation, the Board of Governors decided to award Rs 10,000 as incentive for some years to bright faculty who join the institute.”
For the first time a batch of 58 Honours students, who graduated in B Tech, and BS and MS degrees, were awarded the first dual degree in Physics. Renowned cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) at the glittering ceremony. Listing the milestones achieved by the institute in the area of research and academic distinctions secured by the faculty members and students, Ramamurthi said the ‘Strategic plan 2020’ which had been finalised, articulated the vision of IIT-M to become a leading global technological university.
Delivering the convocation address, Dr Shetty, chairman and founder of Narayana Hrudayalaya group of hospitals, told the gathering that what mattered was their passion, persistence and hard work. Pawan Goenka, chairman, Board of Governors, exhorted the graduating class to use its knowledge and talent to create accessible technology that would lead to shared value resulting in sustainable, affordable and inclusive growth. “It will enrich both you and your country — and perhaps the world,” he told them.
Graduating with top honours was Sneha Abhyankar, who won the ‘President of India Prize’ for the highest CGPA in B Tech and dual degree, Sri V Srinivasan Memorial Prize for the highest CGPA in dual degree and Prof G V N Rayudu Memorial Prize for the highest CGPA in dual degree in mechanical engineering. Pananjady Martin Ashwin bagged the Governor’s Prize for the best all round performance in B Tech and dual degree.