The Gujarat government is probably planning to turn all its PhD students into researchers for the state administration.
In a first, the state government has sent a list of 82 topics to Universities asking them to ensure that doctoral students opt for at least five subjects from it, reports Times Of India.
According to the ToI report, the topics include various welfare schemes and programmes of the state and central governments.
Among them are: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', Gujarat's model schemes like Kanya Kelavani, Gunotsav and MA Yojana and Sardar Patel Awas Yojna.
The students can choose from a range of topics--'Education of minorities — A critical study'; 'Gujarat: Good governance for growth'; and 'Comprehensive analysis of growth of water in seven reservoirs of Saurashtra through SAUNI Yojana' among others.
A U Patel, former vice-chancellor of Gujarat University, believes that the initiative will make students pick "relevant hypothesis" for thesis.
Patel said that PhD students would be able to identify loopholes in a particular scheme or programme.
However, many educationists are unhappy with the state's move. According to them, the state government wants students to do the work of government babus who are responsible for implementation and review of schemes.
Ayesha Kidwai, a JNU professor, criticized Gujarat government's plan and said that this is the reason why there needs to be protest. In a Facebook post, Kidwai wrote: "JNU teachers will be part of #FightbackJNU because if we don't, then this is what lies in store for us."
Kidwai had a funny take on it, mocking the central government.
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