The Indian Institute of Technology, Powai (IIT-B) batch of 1985 have committed to raise `4.5 crores or $1 million, towards promoting on campus Technology & Sustainable Development (T&SD) through academics and entrepreneurship. The alumni has already promised around `2 crores, which will be ceremonially presented to the institute on Alumni Day, December 26, as part of the silver jubilee reunion programme.
According to an institute spokesperson, it is the first time two batches who simultaneously attended the 4-year and 5-year programmes are visiting the campus to commemorate the occasion. They have an exciting set of Legacy Projects. Establishing the Batch of ’85 Chair Professorship in T&SD (`90 lakhs), establishing IIT-B T&SD Business Plan Competition (`90 lakhs), contributing to the existing Young Faculty Awards “sign-on bonus” programme (`90 lakhs) and promoting the Green Campus initiative by installing solar water heaters in hostels (`180 lakhs) are the areas in which the amount will be disbursed.
“There is an overwhelming feeling among the batch of ‘85 that IIT-B needs to be more engaged with the development agenda of India and addressing some basic issues such as agriculture, water, and energy security for the common person. The T&SD notion will see that student and faculty teams get directly involved in solving a problems pertaining to the issues through hands-on fieldwork, rigorous engineering, and innovation,” said Ajay Bhagwat, one of the members of the organising committee.