Mangaluru : Criticising the Centre for taking Indian Institute of Technologies as a benchmark for framing the policy of National Institutes of Technology, Director of National Institute of Technology Karnataka Swapan Bhattacharya said each NIT should be evaluated individually.

Speaking at the 10th global alumni convention here on Friday, Mr. Bhattaracharya said time had come for dismantling the IIT system. The Centre should also stop framing policy in the name of IITs. Each NIT was no less than an IIT and it should be evaluated individually.

“We want the Centre to compare our NIT with IIT Mumbai,” he said and added that the faculty and students in the NITs were no less than those in the IITs. The projects and programmes at the NITs are acclaimed world over.

Pointing to the dichotomy, Mr. Bhattacharya said fees for pursuing undergraduate course at the NIT is 1.25 lakh per annum while it is Rs. 2 lakh at the IIT. “Obviously an impression is being given that the quality at NITs was less than at the IIT.

Mr. Bhattacharya, who is leaving the Institute by the end of this month, said only IITs cannot shape the country’s fortune. There was need of 100 more institutes like NITs.

In his key note address, Managing Director of Titan Industries, Bhaskar Bhat said India was on a growth ladder as there was a positive change in the economy. This was because of confluence of large population, rise in personal income and rise of people’s aspiration, which was unique to India. Mr. Bhat said India was in the best position to tackle volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, which the World was now talking about.

There was discourse by spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev, who is the founder of Isha Foundation. The alumni association felicitated retired professors and staff of NITK and also some alumni, who have made a mark in their professions.